Andy,

I rig my DG600 on a Cobra trailer with the wheel down.

I have a mechanical jack (better in my opinion), so hydraulic failure not
a problem.

I have the wheel just touching the ground so the fuselage is at the same
height every time, and the fuselage doesn't easily rotate. I put a chock
behind the wheel so the fuselage can't move back.

I have the trestles set at exactly the right height so the wings slide in
to the fuselage and don't need to be lifted or jiggled, just pushed. The
trestles obviously have to be put at the same place on the wing every
time.

With everything set like this, the pins slide straight in with the wings
resting on the trestles.

The overall rigging height is only an inch or two higher, and not a
practical problem.

Cheers

Martyn



At 15:42 08 August 2008, Andy wrote:
I noted in John's USA team Blog that he lowers the gear before
rigging. I know other pilots do this too. I have to ask why.

For modern glass gliders and Cobra trailers ...

Reasons for leaving the gear up until the wings are on:

1. If gear is down and a hydraulic trailer jack bleeds down the
fuselage may fall over and be damaged.

2. If gear is down the fuselage is about 6 inches higher so the crew
has to lift the wing tips 6 inches higher to rig.

3. If solo rigging there is more freedom to adjust the fuselage height
to insert the main pins.

Reasons for putting the gear down:

None that I know of - please enlighten me.


Andy