jhasbrouck(at)woh.rr.com
Guest
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:54 pm Post subject: Control surface balancing |
 |
|
All,
I had my informal chat with my local IA today and got the skinny on
how control surfaces are balanced. Hope this is helpfull. Control surfaces
are balanced off the airplane on a fixture that can be as simple as a couple
of nails in a table underneath the hinge points. If done on the airplane
( my preference ), it should be done free of the rest of the control system.
The hinge axis should be level. For our elevators with the trailing edges
low, the torque value ( 37.5 in/lbs ) applied forward of the hinge line
should bring the elevators to the trailing edge level position. This force
can be applied with a rod of some sort extending forward and aft of the
hinge line 37.5" with a 1 lb weight attached. By extending fore and aft the
same distance you negate the moment arm of the rod. Similarly for the
rudder ( which would be laid on its side ) and ailerons. Adding or
subtracting weight in the rudder or elevators wouldn't be too hard but I
don't know how you would adjust the aileron countrweight.
As an aside, Van's sent me the wrong counterweights for the elevators
when I got my tail kit. I talked to them about it and was told to cut down
what I had and drill new holes and it would be fine. They seemed to think
that it was preferrable to shipping lead across the country. Instead I had
them ship me new ones. Somewhere in my memory I recall being told that
the -10 had been flown without any counterweights and didn't experience
flutter. Please don't take that as gospel.
I don't know what effect the trim system would have other than
requiring more weight to offset the trim. As usual this information is for
entertainment purposes only and no warranty of usefullness applies. Always
check with tech support before proceding. The preceding has not been checked
for correctness by the FAA, CAA, NCAA, NRA,TAA or any other A's out there.
Your milage may vary, void where prohibited by law or common sense.......
John Hasbrouck
#40264
Trying to fulfill the educational part of this adventure!
| | - The Matronics RV10-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV10-List |
|
|
|
Get Email Distribution Too!
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
