Looking for anyone with experience (current or past) with rig/de-rig process with folding the wings on HK36R (AKA Super Dimona, Katana) taildragger. Needing to fold wings for hangaring, our current process uses extensively modified "one-man" dollies (see photo), but still has several weaknesses, hence this request for more information.

Specific interests include:
What hardware/dollies/etc used?
Single or multiple person folding process?
Advantages/disadvantages of factory supplied tail hanging equipment/sling vs "one-man" wing dollies?
Origin of "one-man" wing dollies ([would attach photo but do not see a process] red painted 3-wheel apparatus with scissor jack to raise/lower: manufacturer, any documentation, designed for tricycle or taildragger, ...)?
Any other custom-made apparatus?

Thanks in advance

On Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 11:44:16 AM UTC-7, HK36Rgroundcrew wrote:
> Looking for anyone with experience (current or past) with rig/de-rig process with folding the wings on HK36R (AKA Super Dimona, Katana) taildragger. Needing to fold wings for hangaring, our current process uses extensively modified "one-man" dollies (see photo), but still has several weaknesses, hence this request for more information.
>
> Specific interests include:
> What hardware/dollies/etc used?
> Single or multiple person folding process?
> Advantages/disadvantages of factory supplied tail hanging equipment/sling vs "one-man" wing dollies?
> Origin of "one-man" wing dollies ([would attach photo but do not see a process] red painted 3-wheel apparatus with scissor jack to raise/lower: manufacturer, any documentation, designed for tricycle or taildragger, ...)?
> Any other custom-made apparatus?
>
> Thanks in advance

Hello, a decade ago I owned a Dimona, that probably has the same wing folding design. The factory design is great. One person can do it, it requires no dollies or jigs, and only takes a few minutes. The wing root remains attached to the fuselage with a telescoping link that has a universal joint on the end.

Pull the wing pin, grab the wing tip and pull outward. It will move out the length of the spar stub, then you can rotate the leading edge down ( the root is connected to the fuselage still by the link). Then walk the tip to the rear and hang it from the horizontal. Repeat for the other wing. Now the glider is about as wide as a car and twice the length. Often fits easily in a hangar.

Easy Schmeezy!

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 5:26:49 PM UTC-4, pvansch...@gmail.com wrote:

> Hello, a decade ago I owned a Dimona, that probably has the same wing folding design. The factory design is great. One person can do it, it requires no dollies or jigs, and only takes a few minutes. The wing root remains attached to the fuselage with a telescoping link that has a universal joint on the end.
>
> Pull the wing pin, grab the wing tip and pull outward. It will move out the length of the spar stub, then you can rotate the leading edge down ( the root is connected to the fuselage still by the link). Then walk the tip to the rear and hang it from the horizontal. Repeat for the other wing. Now the glider is about as wide as a car and twice the length. Often fits easily in a hangar.
>
> Easy Schmeezy!

Thanks for the info. We have not experienced such ease - difficulty getting pins out unless the wing is perfectly alligned/unloaded, among other issues. We do use the one-man dollies, but they are squirrely over uneven surfaces such as cracks in the tarmack or hangar floor higher than ramp.

Do you still own this aircraft or remember the N-number? Maybe we can connect with the current owner to have further discussions...

Thanks.