Frans=0AWhen I first developed this mod I had to load test it for the LAA.
Because of the leverage of the rudder pedals (and our strong legs)=0AIf one
pilot pushes hard left and the other one has to overide him the total load
on the hing and flange would be nearly 400 Kg.=0A7 years ago we sold our h
ouse and with it went my wonderful workshop. That meant I had to stop makin
g up Mod kits so I persuaded-=0ADavid Stanbridge that it would be a good
idea for Europa to sell this mod. It works for taildraggers too btw,-=0A
=0AWe flew my Long EZ last week for the first time in too many years, it fe
lt wonderful. I am tempted to revalidate my lisence and fly it from the fro
nt again!=0A=0AGraham=0A=0A=0A________________________________=0A From: Fra
ns Veldman <frans@privatepilots.nl>=0ATo: europa-list@matronics.com =0ASent
: Friday, 10 August 2012, 10:53=0ASubject: Europa-List: Mod 77=0A =0A--> Eu
ropa-List message posted by: Frans Veldman <frans@privatepilots.nl>=0A=0AHi
,=0A=0AI just completed mod 77 (rudder drive mechanism). I was surprised to
=0Alearn that I'm the first one to apply it to a finished airplane. Here is
=0Aa couple of reasons why you could do this mod:=0A=0A1) Your built has lo
ng finished and you want to retaste that nostalgic=0Afeeling? Mod 77 has it
all: Some hardware assembly with rivets,=0Abearings, nuts and bolts, some
foam carving, floxing and BIDding, and=0Aplenty of "I can see it, I can tou
ch it, but not at the same time"=0Adeja-vu's, and last but not least the oc
casional confusion (text and=0Apictures both showing different rivets, part
s in the bag that are not=0Alisted or used in the project at all). It is th
e entire built of your=0Aship in a nutshell.=0A=0A2) If you, like me, have
the weight of your feet resting on the rudder=0Apedals, consider that it is
the lower rudder hinge which is carrying all=0Athis weight, and it is even
offset this pulling force. Mod 77 takes all=0Aweight from this hinge and t
ransfers only the differential weight of=0Ayour feet to the rudder.=0A=0A3)
The original rudder stop works as a lever mechanism to execute a=0Amassive
pulling force on the hinge, especially if slammed to the=0Astarboard side.
Mod 77 removes the stops from the rudder and instead has=0Ait incorporated
inside the drive mechanism with much more robust parts.=0A=0A4) Always had
this feeling that this control wire running outside of=0Ayour ship belongs
more on a piper cub than on your sleek Europa? Mod 77=0Aeliminates this co
ntrol wire, horns and stops and improves the cosmetics=0Aof your ship.=0A
=0A5) This outside control horn and wire seemed to capture all the mud and
=0Agrass that the prop and wheels are slinging to this area, and then the
=0Acontrol wire did its best to draw it into the wire opening in the=0Afuse
lage, waiting there to jam or freeze itself stuck. Mod 77 reduces=0Amainten
ance quite a bit, the entire rudder drive is now inside the ship.=0A=0A6) T
he control wire, control horn angled in the airstream, stops, and=0Arudder
bottom cut-off, must create quite some aerodynamic drag. Mod 77=0Aremoves a
ll this clutter and as a bonus you can blend in the bottom of=0Athe rudder
with the bottom of the tailpost. Probably woth a knot or two.=0A=0AOh, for
those concerned about weight: The components weigh about 500=0Agrams. But I
could remove a good 350 grams of old hardware. Remember the=0Aabsurd weigh
t of the original rudder plate, the stacks of washers, etc?=0A=0AFrans=0A
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