Tow Plane Mirrors.

no...@psidesk.com

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Dec 28, 2015, 10:29:36 AM12/28/15

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Hi all,

We have two Cessna 182's towplanes and need a mirror solution.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Noel

Dan Marotta

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Dec 28, 2015, 11:40:00 AM12/28/15

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Our Pawnee has automotive rearview mirrors attached to the wing struts and motorcycle mirrors attached to the cross member above the instrument panel. Of course the Pawnee has a back window; does your 182? The mirrors on the struts are pretty much useless since they have a small field of view, are mounted far away from the pilot, and are ground adjustable only. Our Ag Wagon has a remote controlled (via mechanical cable) automotive mirror mounted to the side of the fuselage just forward of the door. It's quite useful. Maybe you can get field approval for a mirror mounted just forward of the door with the control mounted to the panel. You might need one on each side of a 182.

--
Dan, 5J

Tom (2N0)

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Dec 28, 2015, 1:58:46 PM12/28/15

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Is it just me but I can never see much out of those mirrors. I think that white blur is a glider still attached...

Why not have a camera and monitor just like my SUV has? I am a pro at backing up now that I just look at the TV! :)

mom2...@gmail.com

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Dec 28, 2015, 8:50:10 PM12/28/15

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For C182 see - good detail, measurements and pics.

https://missions.capnhq.gov/ops/dot/Glider/TowPlaneMirror/index.cfm

Best recolection Achorage AK CAP has the 337.

BTW, with big truck mirrors the tow pilot can actually see way more compared to the popular bullet shape car mirrors on many Pawnees. Barely any difference drag and yaw.

steph...@lycos.com

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Dec 29, 2015, 7:04:45 PM12/29/15

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In one of my former clubs, the Rallye towplane had two internally mounted Starfighter mirrors.

Like the ones in this F-104:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark080261/5155138142/in/pool-cockpits/

Stephen Damon

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Dec 29, 2015, 10:01:55 PM12/29/15

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Is it true that all tow planes in Canada have to have mirrors? Would some of our Canada Brothers and Sisters share info and Pictures Please?

PGS

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Dec 30, 2015, 7:50:50 AM12/30/15

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Nice mirrors, but is the rest of the F-104 available?

jagui...@gmail.com

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Dec 30, 2015, 10:53:42 AM12/30/15

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The CAP link above does include a copy of the FAA field approval for the mirrors shown. This will make approval far easier and I am aware of at least one 182 owner who used this for his approval. Alaska Wing of CAP has three gliders in their fleet.

Happy New Year all--

Skip

Tony

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Dec 31, 2015, 10:04:56 AM12/31/15

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With the FAA now OK with you strapping go-pros on your plane, as long as they don't fall off of course, why on earth would you need a 337 to strao a mirror to a wing strut?

Curt Cole

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Dec 31, 2015, 11:00:06 AM12/31/15

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And with that in mind, here's a link to a sturdy clamp which has been
getting good field reviews, especially among the "off-road" airplane
community--Supercubs and such. It's intended for action cameras but it
looks like it would adapt easily to a mirror:

https://www.cloudbaseengineering.com/product/100-0002/

I have no experience with this product, nor connection to the company. The
other Cessna variant I've seen is using a couple of large gear (hose)
clamps to strap a truck mirror to a C-180 strut over felt padding. Not in
pilot's line-of-sight, but worked sorta OK.

Tim Taylor

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Dec 31, 2015, 1:13:22 PM12/31/15

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Just thinking outside the box. Why not put an all internal back-up camera system in the plane?

Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)

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Dec 31, 2015, 1:36:05 PM12/31/15

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On Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 1:13:22 PM UTC-5, Tim Taylor wrote:
> Just thinking outside the box. Why not put an all internal back-up camera system in the plane?

Likely because you're looking at something ~200' away, makes it hard to see from a camera/system designed for ~12' away.
Hmmm..... since you're tapping into the airplane electrical, wonder if that trips a "more paperwork" issue.....

no...@psidesk.com

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Jan 4, 2016, 12:28:09 PM1/4/16

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Thanks Dan, I think the only way an in-cockpit mirror would work if it was glare-shield mounted. The 182 sits pretty nose forward, being a tricycle gear :)

no...@psidesk.com

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Jan 4, 2016, 12:29:07 PM1/4/16

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On Monday, December 28, 2015 at 10:58:46 AM UTC-8, Tom (2N0) wrote:
> Is it just me but I can never see much out of those mirrors. I think that white blur is a glider still attached...
>
> Why not have a camera and monitor just like my SUV has? I am a pro at backing up now that I just look at the TV! :)

Perhaps with some sort of ipad viewing... zoom would be nice.

no...@psidesk.com

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Jan 4, 2016, 12:31:27 PM1/4/16

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Thanks the latest link is here: https://missions.capnhq.gov/ops/dot/Glider/TowPlaneMirror/index.cfm
I believe that this bracket has to be fabricated just as in the Air Cadet Glider Cessna 182 towplanes.

I'm in the process of sending them an email.

no...@psidesk.com

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Jan 4, 2016, 12:32:09 PM1/4/16

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Skip, is it true that the brackets were individually fabricated?

no...@psidesk.com

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Jan 4, 2016, 12:35:02 PM1/4/16

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Very interesting, thanks!