Pietenpol-List: Sealed Gap Empenage Flight Surfaces

[matronics]

Original Posted By:
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Sealed Gap Empenage Flight Surfaces Here is an area where I varied from the plans just a little, but I didn't want to endorse the change till I had some flight time on the plane. Curse me all you purists !! We all know how important it is to seal the gaps at theailerons. I used the plans barn door hinges, and sealed the aileron gaps witha strip of 3" fabric tape, before painting. Now, I just didn't like the big gaps at the hinges of the elevators (flippers) and rudder. I used the same method I used when building model planes,I call it a 'Double Monocoat Hinge'. I used Vi Kappler aluminum hinges, and after building and fitting the control surfaces, before covering, I glued a triangle piece of bulsa wood to the trailing edge of the horiz & vert stabs, andthe leading edge of the flippers and rudder, leaving a gap of 1/4" between thetips of these triangle pieces, in line with and the same diameter as the hingepins. I then covered all the flight surfaces in the conventional manner, assembled the flight surfaces with the pins, then glued a fabric strip down eachslope of the triangle piece, across the gap, then up the other triangle piece,and trimmed it. I did this on the top and the bottom, so two layers of fabric bridge the 1/4" gap, right on the hinge line.Advantages: 1) It seals any air from leaking at the hinge, when the flight surface is deflected, therefore less deflection is needed, thus reducing drag.2) It is a secondary attachment of the flight surfaces, in the event of a hinge failure, and keeps the hinge pins from working out, even if the cotter keyis gone.3) It prevents any sticks or stuff from becoming lodged in the hinge area, when operating out of unimproved strips.4) Hawks don't have any gaps in their tail.Chuck G.I could e-mail directly to anyone wishing to see a picture68 hrs flight time________________________________________________________________________________

[matronics]

Original Posted By:
Chuck,I would truly appreciate a picture of your plane and of the spoken method ofgap seals.Alex Sloanalexms1(at)bellsouth.net----- Original Message -----