September - October - The Recreational Aircraft Association

ping (most material comes from US warehouses).
A prudent builder orders 20% extra material to
allow for shipping damage and the learning curve
that goes with tube fitting. All of the messy import
work, and the cutting and grinding are eliminated
when VR3 supplies the fuselage package. Most of
the tubes can be shipped in mailing tubes, with the
longerons going into 3” tubes 10 ft long.
American manufacturers have already recognized
the savings that can be made by buying their
tubes already profiled. Don VanRaay of VR3 says
that he is supplying complete packages to Cub Crafters
and the orders are very steady. Several other
manufacturers have sent plans sets for quotation.
Menno Peters of VR3 does the CAD work and he is
regularly adding more fuselage packages to the list.
Builders wishing a Cub type plane may order a set
of tubes from VR3, and then get plans for the Barrows
Bearhawk Patrol. VR3’s current inventory of
tube sets includes the One Design, Breezy, Barrows
Bearhawk, Barrows Patrol, and Tailwind. Don and
Menno will consider any aircraft for which there is
enough market to justify the CAD work. Keep an
eye on these fellows - they know airplanes and they
make a good product.
Gary Wolf
For more information:
VR3 Engineering Ltd
45 Dunlop Place
Stratford Ontario
N5A 2E9
ph 519-273-6660 , fax 519-271-6888
website: www.vr3.ca , email: info@vr3.ca
Left: Complex clusters
are no more difficult than
a simple saddle joint. All
joints are watertight.
Below, left: A typical kit
ready for packaging.
Below, right:
Imagine producing these
parts with a drill press and
saw. Then make the mirror
images for the other side
of the fuselage.
September - October 2006 Recreational Flyer 33