Brakes - 1 hour (148 Total)

Today I set up the left brake system to try it out and see if there is an easy way to create a parking brake mechanism.

I didn't have much problem installing the cables and cable housing but the routing is in question at the junction of the cockpit and the landing gear leg. It makes sense to allow the cable to route through the longerons the gear legs connect to before exiting the chassis to follow the gear leg but the housing lengths that the manual suggest to cut to (which I did) don't allow for this. I also found that the powder coat on the pedals is too thick to allow the use of the cable housing cap. Luckily the housing itself fits into the stop.

Once I connected the brake cable and was able to test the brake I found the brake was very uncomfortable to use. Since the toe lever sticks out towards my feet, I either have to always have the brake engaged or position my foot at an uncomfortable position to only touch the rudder pedal. I foresee this being a dangerous way to fly since I would have to remove my feet from the rudder to apply the brakes.

I'll need to look into modifying the brake system to use a hand actuator.