Wing removal

[Blueadventures]

Found using a forklift with wing on a mattress was perfect for removal and refitting wings. The springiness of the mattress allows for small movements to allow removal and refit into attachments.  Then when inboard is connected use a jack to support to fit struts. Doing the 2,000 hourly wing bolts and some other things. New motor to go in next on this A32. First wing removed with 3 people, owner thought up using forklift and it's a winner.

I’ll be using same when I do my Nynja wing upgrade in a few weeks. 

Edited February 13 by Blueadventures

[BrendAn]

you can never have too many foam mattresses when your dealing with wings.

[Thruster88]

I always like total control and help that don't get tired with wing removal. At work we have a platform with two screw Jack's for Cessnas or a height adjustable hospital bed for low wings. Even light wings get heavy very quickly. 

[440032]

Wings sometimes just have to be forklifted. It's not pleasant, in fact it's generally quite unpalletable.

[facthunter]

A stepladder with a cushion on it would be more appropriate..  Nev

[pylon500]

Having removed/replaced wings on Foxbats a few times, and generally on my own, I worked out where the CofG of the wing is, and using triangulated ratchet straps, can lift the wing with an engine hoist.

Obviously the tank needs to be drained first, but I usually leave the flatiron on (just pull one of the carden ring bolts), and with carefully estimating the weight with the hoist, all the bolts come out fairly easily.

I usually stick a bit of masking tape at the balance point (1675mm from flap edge, and 380mm forward from the flap shroud edge), and usually tape or clamp the flaperon level.

 

[sfGnome]

Do you have a bit of counterweight on the tip (red bag in the 2nd photo) to assist in the balance? Given that I generally work solo, this method is very interesting. I’m not sure how I’d rustle up the 3 helpers that the manual recommends. 

[pylon500]

Truth is, I looked at that photo (15-10-2019) for a while, trying to figure out why I had that cushion (that's all it is) on the tip?

Came up blank 🤷‍♂️

It may as you say, be there to alter the angle of the wing, or it may have been something to do with the holding the ratchet strap buckle off the new paintwork...