Time to paint.

H. Paul Shuch is a Light Sport Repairman with Maintenance ratings for airplanes, gliders, weight shift control, and powered parachutes, as well as an independent Rotax Maintenance Technician at the Heavy Maintenance level. He holds a PhD in Air Transportation Engineering from the University of California, and serves as Director of Maintenance for AvSport of Lock Haven.

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914Driver
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2016 4:42 pm
Location: Saratoga, NY

Time to paint.

Post by 914Driver »

Certificated aircraft needs the landing gear repainted due to superficial rust, can they be powder coated?
PC is tougher, lasts longer etc., legal?

Thanks, Dan
3Dreaming
Posts: 3106
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:13 pm
Location: noble, IL USA

Re: Time to paint.

Post by 3Dreaming »

914Driver wrote:Certificated aircraft needs the landing gear repainted due to superficial rust, can they be powder coated?
PC is tougher, lasts longer etc., legal?

Thanks, Dan
First it will depend on the structure of the gear. Tube structures that have had the interior of the tubing treated can be a problem during the coating process. You will find there are many different opinions on powder coating. The biggest concern is corrosion or crack that can develop that remain hidden by the coating. Prep is also very important. I recently have done some research on the subject for a project my son is doing. If it is a steel part you will want to have it blasted, coated with a zinc rich base, followed by your top coat color choice. This means 2 coats of material. Make sure that if there are any saddles that the gear sit in that the added material thickness will not cause any problem.
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