This is one of those little jobs that proved very challenging. I wanted a position switch for the landing brake aka speed brake. I purchase a Ray Allen unit from the UK with a 1.2″ travel. After many experimental hours I gave up on fitting it and have gone for a simple open of closed switch.

The brake actuator in a horizontal movement sense is stationary, moves in the reverse direction and the later half movement is smooth. It is also located in a place where I have to lay on the strakes with my head upside down to get to it. I’m sure it can be done with heroic measures. Nope, it’s plan B.

I have ended up with a simple mini roller switch and an AN3 bolt.

While the brake is going up I can stop it at any point on the travel via my throttle switch. The idea is to use this to see if it works for glide control like an air-brake.  In  practice I’d be looking at the aiming point, not my instrument readout on the G3X. So the position idea was overkill at best anyway.

Here the brake is nearly shut. You can see how it works. When it is shut the bolt head closes the switch. Simple. I then get the cockpit indication that the brake is closed. If I have forgotten to retract it and engage full throttle for take off, the electronics will close it automatically.

I will be taxiing with the brake down at times to protect the prop from stones thrown up if the runway or taxi way is not well maintained. This is why the main feature I need is ‘brake closed’ indication on the panel AND connected to an ‘auto close’ circuit.