Simple, cheap and effective control locks.

[David Paule]

I'd think that a major design criterion for a control lock would be something that prevents you from attempting to fly with it engaged. I'd put this as mandatory.

Vlad's photo shows one such lock, provided it is installed at the pilot's seat.

Dave

[Av8torTom]

Yeah - that's why I said you'd have to do something similar to the rudder pedal(s). For every day use it might be too inconvenient, but might be acceptable for periodic use.

I just don't like the full up elevators....

[kentb]

Originally Posted by David Paule

I'd think that a major design criterion for a control lock would be something that prevents you from attempting to fly with it engaged. I'd put this as mandatory.

Vlad's photo shows one such lock, provided it is installed at the pilot's seat.

Dave

I like having the locking device in the cockpit. It would be had to miss removing it before flight.

I don't think placing it in the PIC position would matter. With the stick full back I don't think you would miss that something was not right when you tried to sit down in your seat.

Kent

[kentb]

Originally Posted by Av8torTom

I just don't like the full up elevators....

Agreed.

I think the best solution would be to cut the forward tube to get neutral elevator and then stabilize the whole thing with a cargo strap.

Look at at Bill Pendergrass's post #10 in this thread.

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...highlight=lock

Kent

[rzbill]

Thanks for the compliment Kent.

When I did the initial fabrication, I adjusted the pole (from stick to pedals) such that all control surfaces were in trail.... Kinda.

OK, so I'll admit a DUH moment. I did this initial fabrication and took that snapshot I posted the other day. Overnight I realized I didn't have the rudder cables hooked to the rudder itself. The cable ends were jambed in the cleco's holding the rudder stops at the tailcone (because I cranked down on the rudder pedals). No biggie. Just had to hook the cables up, remeasure and recut the tube, and redrill one bolt hole. And then decide whether to actually tell anybody.

[Av8torTom]

Kent - or use something like Vlad has with a shortened stick arm and a stout bungee cord between the rudder pedals and the stick to hold everything together...

[RVbySDI]

Originally Posted by Av8torTom

Kent - or use something like Vlad has with a shortened stick arm and a stout bungee cord between the rudder pedals and the stick to hold everything together...

Can you elaborate some on your comment? I am not seeing where having the bungee stretched between the rudder pedals and the stick is going to lock the controls. There needs to be something locking the stick to some "immovable" object within the cockpit in order for the stick, and subsequently the control surfaces (i.e. aileron and elevator), to be locked down.

[kentb]

Originally Posted by Av8torTom

Kent - or use something like Vlad has with a shortened stick arm and a stout bungee cord between the rudder pedals and the stick to hold everything together...

Well maybe not the peddles (they would just pull back leaving slack in the rudder cable), but you could hook to the bar that the peddles pivot on.

This is not going to be pulled out of place, but that is a long reach back behind the panel.

Maybe attach some rope to it that hangs just behind the panel so that you could get to it easily.

Kent

[Av8torTom]

Steve,

The bungee cord solution I suggested would require a device like Vlad has fabricated.

T.

[morganjp]

I was at SERFI on the weekend and the guy in a 6A parked next to me tied a pair of sneakers on the rudder to keep the rudder away from the elevator, It worked! Any port in a storm.