Top Gear: Sealey MC480 hydraulic lift

£145 | Website www.toolden.co.uk

Last issue I mentioned that I had found a cracked tube in the RV-3 engine mount. That meant engine off, and because the RV-3, like most of the tailwheel RV’s uses its engine mount to attach the gear legs to, required a solution to lift the airframe safely and keep it supported without the gear while the engine mount was away for repair.

The MC480 is well built and requires very little assembly out of the box

While I was looking around at types of hydraulic jack, I stumbled upon a lift designed for motorcycles and quad bikes. The Sealey MC480 popped up in one of my searches, with 680kg of lifting capability which was more than adequate for the 335kg empty weight of the RV-3, and while the retail price was £200, one or two online suppliers had it for less than £150, which seemed like good value for well-engineered lifting capability.

A sturdy screwed together custom fixture was made to support the aircraft on the spar carry-through area – and gave a little extra height to make up for the lifts’ 40cm maximum extension

After making a custom wood fixture to sit on its wide lift platform, we raised and supported the tailwheel and slipped it under the aircraft. Easy pumps on the lift pedal and the gear was lifted off the ground. A mechanical safety lock and stabilising feet on the lift helped keep the -3 safe while the mount was away.

With the safety lock engaged and a couple of improvised wing supports using some foam and adjustable bar stools, the MC480 provided stable support for the aircraft while the mount was away for repair

Once the repairs were complete, careful use of the pressure release had the -3 lowered back onto it’s wheels. EH

Flightdeck Prose & Cons

£9 | www.amazon.co.uk

Subtitled ‘Secrets from the little room at the front of the plane’, parts of this book are the reading equivalent of sharing many meals and drinks with a bunch of old experienced airline pilots while listening to their war stories. Other parts offer great learning points and practical advice. Well worth a read, particularly at this low price! IS

A Pilot’s Life for Me

£25 | www.amazon.co.uk

If you are thinking of becoming a commercial pilot but don’t know where to start, this excellent book will give you the basics in an easily digestible form. It won’t give you all the answers (top hint – there’s no single answer that’s good for all), but it’s certainly a great starting point for further research. IS

Return to the Skies

£15 | gavdfbook@gmail.com

G-AVDF, the Beagle Pup prototype first flew in 1967, a British aircraft at the centre of light aviation. But by 1969 DF was left unwanted, and it wasn’t until 1993 that the airframe was saved. This book details all the challenges and the importantly the people behind the five year restoration. EH