Rudder trim tab

[skippydiesel]

42 minutes ago, BrendAn said:

have you come up with your alieron trim yet skip.

i am going to see if i can fit a light bungy cleat system  like you described earlier.

then a fixed tab for the rudder.

the other option i have been thinking about is rc servo operated tabs a bit like ilevil tabs. very simple .

About half way through my 200hr service.

 

Part of the service is to "dry lube" all the control systems moving parts - to this end all inspection covers will be removed / replaced (ugh! - far too many screws, will have RSI by the time I'm done) including the whole seat pan.

 

Removal of the seat pan will expose the cockpit flight controls linkages/rods/etc. This will give me a chance to work out, the bungee cord routing, location of pulleys & cam cleats. If it's possible, I will have a bungee on the left rudder system & on the right aileron / up. It's going to be tight - will let you know.😈

[BrendAn]

i had a go with the weather seal strips today.  need to cut the rudder one down a few inches and it will be pretty good. 

aileron piece may need a bit added. 

i think i would prefer to make the aileron tab adjustable though.

[facthunter]

MOST People don't find any of this Necessary. What if it Flutters? I've seen experienced pilots tie themselves in a knot setting  roll and the rudder  relationship in  flight.  IF you  set a bit of engine offset that cancels out the Power effect in most U/Ls. Nev

[BrendAn]

11 minutes ago, facthunter said:

MOST People don't find any of this Necessary. What if it Flutters? I've seen experienced pilots tie themselves in a knot setting  roll and the rudder  relationship in  flight.  IF you  set a bit of engine offset that cancels out the Power effect in most U/Ls. Nev

this is my third xair. i know how it should fly.  it would be a big job to offset the engine on the xair mount.  

i imagine the only way would be to oval the holes in the mounting plate and i don't want to do that.

i think the reason this one needs trim tabs is because it has a 72 inch 3 blade and 3.47-1 reduction. 

[facthunter]

X air is a long way from Being a Spitfire THEY DO need rudder trim... Nev.

[BrendAn]

1 minute ago, facthunter said:

X air is a long way from Being a Spitfire THEY DO need rudder trim... Nev.

i couldn't care less about a spitfire nev.    i get a sore leg keeping the ball in the center. it needs a trim tab.

 

[BrendAn]

24 minutes ago, facthunter said:

X air is a long way from Being a Spitfire THEY DO need rudder trim... Nev.

its not just me. go back a page you will see robinsm had a rudder trim tab on his xair as well .

[facthunter]

Don't fly a Tiger Moth, Then.  Most U/Ls are pretty" active on the rudder" things. I just prefer to keep things simple on the Basis of Less to go wrong. You can do what you want but you have CHOSEN to go Public on this, so then we have a discussion. Isn't that the way it works?  A hinged tab can cause flutter.  Nev

Edited February 14 by facthunter

[BrendAn]

Just now, facthunter said:

Don't fly a Tiger Moth, Then.  Most U/Ls are pretty" active on the rudder" things. I just prefer to keep things simple on the Basis of Less to go wrong. You can do what you want but you have CHOSEN to go Public on this.. Nev

i have no problem with your comments. i might learn something.  not sure if a spitfire is a good comparison.

if i relax my feet off the pedals it will go hard left and drop the nose. i just want it to behave when i relax a bit. like i said i didn't have that problem with the other 2.  one 582 powered with a 2 blade sweetapple prop.  the other 2200 jabiru powered with 2 blade sensenich prop

 

 

[BrendAn]

it might only be an ultralight but i think its a great learning and hour building platform.

[robinsm]

1 hour ago, BrendAn said:

its not just me. go back a page you will see robinsm had a rudder trim tab on his xair as well .

yep, one of the best additions I made a fixed trim tab,  allows them to be flown hands off when set correctly.   No, its not a spitfire, but then it depends what you want.   Nothing wrong with wanting any aircraft, large or small, to fly correctly and comfortably.  Try correcting trim without a tab for 7 hour , multi stop trip and then say its not required....lol

 

[skippydiesel]

All aircraft should be "trimmed"  for straight & level flight in Cruise.

This can be done with fixed trim tabs &/or adjustment of flap position. This is just dandy for single seater aircraft but is of limited benefit for two seaters, particularly the side by side design.

Fill the passenger seat with a human or other load & the aircraft will no longer be in trim ie the pilot will have to continually fly with one or more correction inputs (aileron & rudder).

The solution is some sort of inflight adjustment. This can be an electric, mechanical actuated movable trim tab or spring loaded device acting on one or both flight controls.😈

[facthunter]

If it's an adjustable hinged tab it can flutter and that's not something to Just disregard. Also if it runs to a limit how is the Plane affected?. AS far as side by side affects  things , fuel  disposition can do similar  and you could Put any cargo to the Left side to compensate. I've flown a plane when test flying from Both seats. Aileron corrects the difference and it's not a lot. A length of Garter elastic would compensate. Nev

[BrendAn]

i fitted a 6mm bungee from the stick to a cam cleat like you blokes have mentioned. i think it is going to work well.

i couldn't try it on the wekend because the raaf base shut the airspace for the weekend. buggers.