Stabalizer boots/ kits

Kristi McDonnell · Post by **Kristi McDonnell** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:19 am

I am a new 170 owner and am wondering what folks are doing to add stabilizer boots to their aircraft. The Cessna dealer tells me they donâ€™t make the old kits with the curve. The new Cessna kits donâ€™t have the curve. My understanding is that you need to notch them for a smooth installation. Iâ€™ve talked to several people who have gotten pretty creative with other applications. Does anyone know of any other products made or anyone who figured it out?

bigrenna · Post by **bigrenna** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:50 am

delete

akclimber · Post by **akclimber** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 7:23 pm

The straight boots (for cessna 180) will work fine. You don't need to notch for the curve, the rubber is flexible enough, maybe a little heat gun to coax it around.

Post by **GAHorn** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:48 am

One of the BEST reasons to operate with wheel-pants/fairings is...it protects the airframe/empennage from FOD. My tail has no boots and doesn't need them. Neither do the wings/windshield get slung with mud/water.

bagarre · Post by **bagarre** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:36 am

...but the boots do look nice.

Green Bean · Post by **Green Bean** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:13 am

Here is a note from and Idaho back country pilot.

That's what it comes down to. Wheel pants don't even "look good" on a plane that's going in & out of surfaces other than asphalt (let alone bush or off field sites) because of all the potential for problems.

Lot's of wheel pants get damaged by rocks and end up getting ripped off by hand and discarded, just to get back out of some strips in Idaho such as Soldier Bar. Even worse, sometimes a sharp rock'll get in between the wheel pant and tire when landing & shred the tire's sidewall...

The 180 rubber strips work well and do look good.

bagarre · Post by **bagarre** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:26 am

If I was a bush pilot, I might have a different opinion.
Id also be running bigger tires that wouldn't fit under wheel pants anyways.

But I stil think the boots look good...even with wheel pants.

c170b53 · Post by **c170b53** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:06 pm

But I still think the boots look good

I like cowboy boots myself and even though I'd like to be, sadly I'm no cowboy.

Post by **GAHorn** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:08 pm

Yes...it's a point worth remembering that wheel fairings only fit on 600 X 6 tires. I operatore MOSTLY off of grass and dirt strips....and occasionally paved airports. (If I operated only on pavement..I wouldn't need wheel pants to protect my wings and tail.)

The International Cessna^® 170 Association