The tank does drop down. That solid block I added on the bottom longeron in front of the seat support was from advice of an aeronautical engineer who owns a Dakota Hawk. He snapped the longeron there in a hard landing. He also advised adding ply gusset on the inside across that blocking. He felt that area was designed too weak. The cost is a few ounces in weight and the reward is not having to deal with a snapped longeron some day. Seemed like sound advice to me.
I think I'm going to go with the Aeromomentum... I am getting close to calling them and figure out what I need for a mount. On there website they talk about the same mount as a lycoming... I just happen to have one on my T-18 that I could use as a template.
@@sawyersdad5292I'm planned to get the 100HP Aeromomentum AM13. Dave at FFP is designing and fabricating my mount that will also incorporate the nose gear. If this first tri-hawk works out well, which I'm sure it will, this will be offered as an option for future Dakota Hawk builders.
@@sawyersdad5292 The Aeromomentum is probably a good choice. Either the AM13 or AM15 would probably work. I don't know any more about them than what I've read even though they are only 100 miles south of me. I think I was secretly hoping to see a Corvair engine in a Hawk. Only because I'm an old gearhead.
@@jimhumphrey Corvair was high on my list of engines.... but I was hoping for fuel injection. I own an automotive garage and see the benefits of it everyday and it rarely dies completely... if an injector goes down the engine still runs... and I plan for fly all year in Canada... again fuel injection is the way to go when it's -20+. I am also looking at a heating system and an actual heater core is the way to go when it's really cold.
