Belly Pod

[mspenc45]

I am getting ready to install the Firmin pod and am wondering if anyone might have any photos of the clamp installation in the rear. I am looking to see if their is only one slit made in the fabric and then the clamp fished through such that the clamp is under the fabric, except where the stem of the "P" exits, difficult at best, or if there are two slits with the clamp basically being on top of the fabric around the bottom outside of the tube?

[Pete D]

The second one is what sounds right. The fabric is glued to the lower longeron, so unless you put the clamp on before you cover, the clamp will come out of the fabric two places and be exposed around the outside of the longeron. Some silicone neatly applied where the slits in the fabric are help to keep water out of the fuse.

I don't have a pic handy, sorry.

Pete D.

[mspenc45]

Thanks Pete!

[stede52]

Just FYI, I saw a really nice carbon fiber fuel belly pod (37gals, I think) specifically made for the carbon cub, no cutting of fabric or special clamps, ties into the existing brackets, built by Lewaero Works (Bob Wilson, 503-396-7352). Please call Bob for pricing, specs and specifics on the unit.IMG_1726.jpgIMG_1725.jpgIMG_1727.jpg

[Springloaded]

The pod was definitely the ticket on this trip,with small tanks it would of been a completely different trip. I had all my camping gear ,tie downs, tool bag,fishing poles,food & water,small soft sided cooler right at 75Lbs plus 21.6 gals of fuel forward of the door. Had all my clothes,backpack,Yeti cooler behind rear seat, crash/ditch bag buckled in back seat and the rear baggage was practically empty pair of boots and a jacket. Being able to have the extra fuel was priceless worth every bit of aggregation modifying it. Took 10-15 min to unload and remove it for STOL contest probably no more then 15 reinstall and load back up. Having all the weight under your seat was great.
Chuck

[Scouter]

The pod was definitely the ticket on this trip,with small tanks it would of been a completely different trip. I had all my camping gear ,tie downs, tool bag,fishing poles,food & water,small soft sided cooler right at 75Lbs plus 21.6 gals of fuel forward of the door. Had all my clothes,backpack,Yeti cooler behind rear seat, crash/ditch bag buckled in back seat and the rear baggage was practically empty pair of boots and a jacket. Being able to have the extra fuel was priceless worth every bit of aggregation modifying it. Took 10-15 min to unload and remove it for STOL contest probably no more then 15 reinstall and load back up. Having all the weight under your seat was great.
Chuck

HI CHUCK
Who made your belly pod/fuel combo? Thinking about a trip to Southern Bahamas this winter and have the small tanks as well

thx

jim

[Dan L]

I picked up a Carbon Concepts belly pod in July from Randy in Wasilla. It has a lot of capacity and weighs 14 pounds.

IMG_3575.jpg

Randy finishing up the installation.

IMG_2991.jpg

Here's a my rear attach fittings. I didn't like the fabric slit/clamp method and welded an arm on a MS27405 clamp as shown and then attached it to a vertical fuselage tube.

IMG_3109.jpg

Then this 4130 plate is attached to the new internal clamp using an AN3 bolt.

IMG_3108.jpg

And the front attach fitting.

IMG_3751.jpg

I prefer an all-cargo pod. If I want to carry some fuel then the fuel bags or jugs work fine in the pod.

[Springloaded]

I picked up a Carbon Concepts belly pod in July from Randy in Wasilla. It has a lot of capacity and weighs 14 pounds
IMG_3751.jpg

I prefer an all-cargo pod. If I want to carry some fuel then the fuel bags or jugs work fine in the pod.

Dan
Did all this come out of your pod? I was thinking of bringing my pod to a glass shop and having them make the front section into fuel. But if I can get 4 bags and some gear in it I might just go that route.
thanks
chuck

[Dan L]

Dan
Did all this come out of your pod? I was thinking of bringing my pod to a glass shop and having them make the front section into fuel. But if I can get 4 bags and some gear in it I might just go that route.
thanks
chuck

Hi Chuck, no not the cooler or Packraft 49. The four fuel bags fit nicely along with a few other items like tie downs and bear spray. I think you could get five bags in there but I just have four bags so haven’t tried that.

A nice thing about the bags is you can pull them out and cache them and not be hauling the weight around when you don’t need it.

[N867SP]

I picked up a Carbon Concepts belly pod in July from Randy in Wasilla. It has a lot of capacity and weighs 14 pounds.

IMG_3575.jpg

Randy finishing up the installation.

IMG_2991.jpg

Here's a my rear attach fittings. I didn't like the fabric slit/clamp method and welded an arm on a MS27405 clamp as shown and then attached it to a vertical fuselage tube.

IMG_3109.jpg

Then this 4130 plate is attached to the new internal clamp using an AN3 bolt.

IMG_3108.jpg

And the front attach fitting.

IMG_3751.jpg

I prefer an all-cargo pod. If I want to carry some fuel then the fuel bags or jugs work fine in the pod.

Dan,

Now that you’ve had the pod for some time what are your thoughts? How’s it holding up? Would you recommend it? What, if anything, would you do differently? What was the cost?

I’m looking into cargo pod and gathering info currently.

Thanks,

Pete


Pete Meyer
Severna Park, MD
CCK-1865-0078
✈️N9PW