My question is...what thickness 6061-T6 aluminum should I use? The only reference I have found stated .060 but personally, I think that is way too thin. I was more inclined to 1/4". What do you guys think? Thanks >Mark Jones (N886MJ) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
Sounds rather heavy to me. I made my speed brake ( 9" X 30") from 1/4" foam with a piece of spruce on the lead edge where the hinge attaches and a spruce plug in the middle where the actuating arm attaches. I used two layers of glass on each side, as I recall, and removed the foam from the edges and filled with flox. I drilled many 1/8" holes in the piano hinge and floxed and glassed it to the brake. I drilled quite a few 3/4" holes in the brake, removed the foam from the edge of the holes, and floxed there also. My brake goes down to nearly 90 degrees and I've had it fully deployed at up to 95 smph indicated with no problem. I have my ASI "whitelined" (flap speed) to about 90 mph. Usually on base leg I slow to 90 IAS and run the brake full down. I don't have an indicator for the brake but I can watch my amp meter and tell when the brake is full down. It takes about 7 seconds. To check for full down I just move the brake switch to down and if the amp meter doesn't move the brake is already full down. Of the 100 or so landings to date I have yet to land without the brake full down. It makes for a much more comfortable approach. The fact that my brake has only one attach point for the pushrod that deployes it and that is offset from the center by approx 5 or 6 inches should give you some idea of it's strength. I built a small ramp of foam and glass on the belly to fare the lead edge of the brake. Larry Flesner
