Acme aero stiffeners
Bolt-on bounce eliminators
Acme Aero, a North Carolina company, has its own clever fix for these problems: a bolt-on, nitrogen-charged suspension system that consists of two external braces and doesn’t require a supplemental type certificate.
The company’s “Cessna Damper” stiffens spring gear, and that reduces flex, increases prop clearance, and eliminates the tendency to bounce.
I recently flew a tailwheel-converted Cessna 175 equipped with Cessna 180 spring steel gear and an Acme Aero Cessna Damper.
Despite a lumpy turf runway and a 10-knot crosswind, the airplane’s behavior on the ground was firm, positive, and exceptionally well mannered, a stark difference from unbraced tailwheel Cessnas.
The 22-pound Acme system attaches to the tow tug on the inside of each wheel and a clamp on the main landing gear on the opposite side. The Cessna 175 owner said the only drawback to the Acme gear was drag: Installing it reduces cruise speed by about 8 knots.
The good news there, however, is that the X-shaped suspension system can be removed in minutes with only a few bolts. Leave it off for cross-country flights, then reinstall it before landing in the backcountry. 
Price: $8,000
acmeaerofab.com
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