Luebke Wing Stand
Contact Ralph Luebke
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The stand is resting on a scale. This is a god way to
know when the wings are properly supported for pulling the main pin(s). Just
note the weight one time when you insert the pins. Then at disassembly time, adjust
for the same weight.
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When Ralph Luebke built this wing stand for me (the one on the right) I thought it would be too unstable
to be practical. But after years of use, I wouldn't trade it for anything on the
market. It's the epitome of simplicity, it's rugged and it works better than
tripod stands. He gave me just the metal parts. I came up with the cushiuon and bungee strap myself.
Now Relph makes the complete stand including the cushion and strap (pictured on the right).
This stand is merely two welded T's of square steel tubing.
One slips inside the other. A lock-pin fits through holes to set the height.
Nothing could be simpler or more rugged. The top cross bar is tilted, corresponding roughly
to the wing tip angle and is covered with a cushioning material. A bungee strap is
secured to one end of the top cross bar. It wraps around the wing tip and hooks into
a hole on the other side to secure the wing.
Functionally, this stand is a thing of beauty.
You can manipulate the root end of your wing and not worry about a tripod tilting up
on two legs. You can lean this stand toward
the fuselage and it will help keep the wing in the fuselage while you fit the
other wing. You can adjust the tip fore and aft without worrying about the wing
slipping off of a tripod at mid-span. Since it is secured by the bungee strap,
when you lift the tip, the stand just follows along. And when the glider is assembled,
this stand works effectively both to support the wing and to hold it down.
Its location at the tip, and its weight help it hold the wing down.
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People often comment on how easily my glider assembles. This stand is one
one reason. When I help people who use tripod stands, I always wonder why they put
up with the awkwardness of those things.
Jim Hendrix
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