Jim,
I flew today with a friend (mutiple RV owner/builder) in the right seat.
He's a far more experienced and talented pilot than I. The plane turned
RIGHT ever so slightly hands off. The ball was off about the same to the
left.
Stalls dirty with the two of us broke a little to the right at low
power. He did lots of stalls and thought the plane flew very nicely. So
I'm not going to do anything regarding roll correction. I have a TruTrak
autopilot installed but not hooked up yet. I imagine it will work well
for longer flights, without aileron trim, solo or dual.
I like your rudder trim solution. If I understand correctly it looks
like a flettner strip on our trim tabs?
My RV friend landed the Europa-mono four times, each one getting better.
Made me feel better to see that he did some light bounces and showed me
that a fine touch on the throttle does wonders. He was impressed with
the 914/airmaster combo!
Thanks, Kevin
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Brown
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 3:19 PM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Flap position, Flight testing
Kevin
I had the same problem that you have, the ball was out about a
quarter to the left. I solved my problem by installing a wedge of balsa
wood on the RIGHT side of the rudder.
The balsa wood came from a hobby shop, and is used for trailing
edges on model wings. It is shaped like a wedge. The front is maby 1/32
and the rear is 1/4 thick.. cut it to about 2 inches long. Temporary
install on the Right side of the rudder with the 1/4 inch thick part at
the trailing edge of the rudder. Also locate it about half way down from
the top of the rudder.
I used masking tape to hold it on. Then go fly, get plane in
normal cruise, take feet off pedals. where is ball. If the ball did no
quite get centered. Use a longer wedge. If ball went to far, cut the
wedge shorter. and go fly again. After a couple tries you should have
the ball centered in normal cruise.
You can attach any way you want. Glue it on, use vinyl tape,
RTV....
This makes a neater installation than gluing a piece of aluminum
on the rudder and then bending a tab to accomplish the same result.
When you start flying cross countrys at 17.500 ft you will see
some very impressive ground speeds. It blows the controller's mind when
you tell him you are flying behind a Rotax. They think two strokes.
Jim Brown
--- On Sun, 3/15/09, Kevin Klinefelter <kevann@gotsky..com>
wrote:
From: Kevin Klinefelter <kevann@gotsky.com>
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Flap position, Flight testing
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 12:46 AM
Hi Jim,
I have to hold just a little left rudder in cruise to center
the ball on my Dynon. Seems like I am skidding just a bit.
When I use the stick to level the plane I can do it with one
finger, just a pound or so to keep the left wing up cruising solo. In
this position of wings level the ball is off to the left just enough to
put the ball 1/4 on the line.
When gear and flaps are down, the left turn is more
pronounced. And when stalled dirty the left wing always drops.
Thanks to all for the responses. I have not tried changing
anything yet. I have just been enjoying this great little plane and
trying very hard to get better at landing her. I have been doing a lot
of landings! And also some high cruising, 17,000 feet over the snow
covered Sierra, just amazing to be there instead of in the garage...
Kevin, 35+ hours on the hobbs
A211, N211KA
Mono XS
Intercooled 914, Airmaster Prop
From: Jim Brown
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 6:02 PM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Flap position, Flight testing
Kevin
Your statment "in cruise I have to hold a little left
rudder".. Is this to keep the plane from a slight turning to the right?
Is the right wing low without rudder ?
The next time you fly, do this for me. Once in normal
cruse, take your feet off the rudder pedals. Use your stick to level the
plane, then observe where the sticks position is. Is it to the left of
center or is it to the righ of center, or does it remain centered ? In
this position of wings level, where is the ball? Is it to the right, or
to the left, or is it centered?
The monowheel does have a tendenancy to turn left a
little, when flown solo.
Jim Brown
--- On Fri, 3/6/09, Kevin Klinefelter
<kevann@gotsky.com> wrote:
From: Kevin Klinefelter <kevann@gotsky.com>
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Flap position, Flight
testing
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Date: Friday, March 6, 2009, 1:04 PM
Jim, In cruise I have to hold a little left
rudder...
Kevin
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Brown
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 4:21 AM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Flap position, Flight
testing
Kevin
I would think that given the left flap is
lower than the right flap that the plane would be turning right. Given
that the left flap will have more pressure on it than the right flap.
I would suggest that on the next flight
check the turn and bank ball. and see if its setting to the right. Try
centering the ball with rudder and see if that helps.
Jim Brown
--- On Thu, 3/5/09, Kevin Klinefelter
<kevann@gotsky.com> wrote:
From: Kevin Klinefelter
<kevann@gotsky.com>
Subject: Europa-List: Flap position,
Flight testing
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 11:38 PM
Hi All,
Flight testing of 914 powered monowheel
N211KA is going well (29 hours).I have a flap position question for
those who have been there.
The aircraft has an irritating left turn
in it when flown solo and slight left turn with two up. When trimmed out
cruising straight and level the ailerons are close to even with the wing
tips and the left flap is noticeably lower relative to it's aileron than
the right side, which is almost even with the aileron. I think if I can
rig the left flap up even with the aileron it will help cure the left
turning problem and be less drag.
I thought I might get a new flap hinge arm
(FL16) on the left and with the aircraft supported and flaps up in the
desired position I could drill new holes thru the lugs on the tourqe
tube so the left flap retacted position matches the right.
Will this work or is there a better way?
Thanks, Kevin... flying and grinning...
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