Choice Cuts - TNT's milled landing gear.

[SleepyC]

It is said by many people now that a light airplane simply flys better.

This comment was tested by the many brave souls out in their shops tinkering, engineering and simply taking chances. And because of all this hard work, building a light airplane has been accepted as a great idea by almost everyone currently involved in the model airplane hobby.

Getting airplanes to drop weight is done in many different ways. Builders have all sorts of creative ideas. They cut holes in the plywood, they use balsa stringers instead of harder wood, they core the wings, they extensively mill and sand all the wood parts, the list could go on and on. With all the different ideas and methods out there being used, there was one area on the airframe that couldn't be easily modified. This area has always been the landing gear.

The were only two options a person had to lighten the landing gear. One was to buy a set of carbon fiber landing gear. This is a nice option and works great in most applications, but if you fly from a ruff field, or a field that tends to have a lot of cross wind you will quickly learn about de-lamination.

The other option was to take your sturdy aluminum landing gear and find a machine shop who was willing to mill the gear for you. This method maintains the strength of the gear, and yet yields a much lower weight than the stock gear. BUT to find a shop willing to mill the gear was tough, and since it would be a one off piece, the cost was high.

Our friend and FG sponsor Tom Kroggel from TNT landing gear recognized the need people had for an affordable set of milled gear. He also recognized that customers would love to call or go online and purchase a set of pre-milled gear ready to install on their plane!

BAM.. Choice Cuts milled landing was born. Tom has filled the demand for CNC milled 6061 aluminum landing gear bent into the shape you need.

So, all of you weight conscious builders and fliers now have another choice to bring the weight down on your plane!

Tom's official announcement:

TnT Landing Gear Products is proud to introduce our new line of “Choice Cut” CNC milled 6061 aluminum landing gear. Pictured are our new gear featuring the milled slots.

The cuts were engineered to maintain all the strength of aluminum but making it lighter like carbon. We designed it to be light and yet strong, so when you need to count on it the most, on landing.

We took all the hassle away from you of trying to find a shop to machine and sand and in some cases roll the gear to get the quality you come to expect.

Please visit our web site www.tntlandinggear.com for further details.

These gear are Made in the USA so you know it has to be good.

Sounds sweet to me Tom!

[SleepyC]

Some pics;

[littlecrankshaft]

Just what we needed. Kewl!

[STLAV8R]

Looks sweet! Where can we find the weight of the gear? (didn't see it on the web site).

[SleepyC]

	Quote: Originally Posted by STLAV8R
	Looks sweet! Where can we find the weight of the gear? (didn't see it on the web site).

I'm pretty sure its a piece by piece weight.
I know Tom is still working on these, and will be stocking them.
Once stocked.. i'm sure the weights will be listed.

[Dean Bird]

	Quote: Originally Posted by STLAV8R
	Where can we find the weight of the gear? (didn't see it on the web site).

Some of them have weights listed.

http://www.tntlandinggear.com/choice...ow_availab.htm

[Drysdale]

Thanks for the great write up Sleepy. Your right on the weights and as time goes on we will post them on the web site. Some gear are not as wide as others so the milling is all different and the weight savings would be too. Most of the time we are finding you will save anywhere from a 5 to 12 ounces of weight from the stock aluminum gear.
Tom K
TnT Landing Gear Products

[CSpaced]

Looks great! Such a simple idea, I'm surprised no one has released something like this before.

[gareth.ky]

This is a great idea. If I were you Tom I would be getting in touch with all of the companies you are doing the gear for and see if they are interested in offering your milled gear as an option. Certainly for the kits (Carden, Dalton etc.) you would probably get 80% buy in.

[The_Wreck]

Awesome work Tom. I have never been a fan of Carbon Fiber gear. I am getting a Pilot RC 37.5% Yak. If I have problems with the CF gear I will definitely be ordering a set.

For people who do not know Tom, you will not find a better, more honest person in this hobby. He really helped J&J out when we got started.

[gmorales83]

Perfect! Now i wont have to do this anymore !

[McFueler]

	Quote: Originally Posted by gareth.ky
	This is a great idea. If I were you Tom I would be getting in touch with all of the companies you are doing the gear for and see if they are interested in offering your milled gear as an option. Certainly for the kits (Carden, Dalton etc.) you would probably get 80% buy in.

Carden already has these lightened gears call and ask Dennis about them.

[Rush7]

I need to get one for my Carden Yak re-build anyways.

[aviti]

	Quote: Originally Posted by McFueler
	Carden already has these lightened gears call and ask Dennis about them.

Carden has the lightened gear from TNT? I just bought a 40% Extra 300 and would have liked a lightened gear instead of the stock one. That way you're not paying for 2 sets of gear. Perhaps I can trade in my stock gear with Carden.

[Al Lewis]

What alloy are you making these from?? Forget it, I just found it in the original post. Why not 7075 T6??