First flight and a question

[bajapilot]

Had the first flight of N218VC yesterday followed by a 1 hour flight today. What a great little airplane. Coming from flying rag & tube taildraggers for the last 10 years it took a little getting used to the light controls.

A few minor problems have been ironed out with idle speed, prop pitch and stall warning adjustments.

The one remaining problem I have is a very heavy left wing. I don't mean a slight drift, more like a slow roll. Ball is centered and flapperons are displace about 1/4 inch opposite when you let go of the stick.

So... I did a lot of research in the archives and Vans FAQ's to see what I should do and started by checking the all the rod ends are exactly 11/32 from the skins but that didn't help the condition. My next step will be to squeeze the trailing edge on the light wing.

Herein lies the question. Just how much effect can one expect from tweaking the trailing edges? I've heard a lot about it but no one has quantified it, does it help a little or a lot? The amount of roll that I'm getting now will take care of my turns in the pattern but that's not how I like to do them.

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

Bill

[JBPILOT]

I had a heavy left as I recall. Started pinching right trailing edge of flap ( maybe 3 'panels' ), and tired it. Helped, but not enough. Did 3 more, and it was too much, and had to start pinching left side, one 'panel' at a time. I have no wedges on rudder, and ball is centered fairly well by myself. Changes with 2nd person, but stays good. It does work. Go slow and try it after each adjustment.

[Mich48041]

Read this thread:
Flaperon Adjustment
In my case, adjusting the flapperon rod-end bearings was much more effective than squeezing the trailing edge (which could dent the skin).
Joe Gores

[RFSchaller]

My heavy wing wasn't that bad, but I did not have much luck squeezing the trailing edge so I riveted on bendable trim tabs. Works great.

[Dvalcik]

Originally Posted by Mich48041

Read this thread:
Flaperon Adjustment
In my case, adjusting the flapperon rod-end bearings was much more effective than squeezing the trailing edge (which could dent the skin).
Joe Gores

Start with the adjustments at the heim joints first. I ended up mine were off on one side - 30 min later solved. Measure both sides, a half turn will make a difference.

[bajapilot]

Thanks for the hints on bringing up my heavy wing. The recheck on the rod end bearings didn't do the trick, maybe a little worst now. I'm going to try squeezing the trailing edge tomorrow morning and flight test but I'm not too optimistic because this is a very heavy wing.

I'm had other aircraft with a heavy wing which were easy to bring back with a little tweaking - washing in or out, but with the fixed geometry of the 12 I was surprised by it. I hope I can bring it back in with the "squeeze method" but I think I'm heading for a trim tab.

For those who did resort to a trim tab, did you mount it on top or bottom of the flapperon? And span wise center or closer to the tip?

Really want to get this resolved because it'll be hard to do the necessary flight testing in this condition. The airplane is a pleasure to fly in every other respect.

Bill

[PilotBrent]

I had a heavy left wing and by making some adjustments to the rod end bearings (1/2 turn adjustments at a time) on both sides it turned out, I was able to get the wings very well balanced. I didn't find squeezing the ailerons helped very noticeably. Now at steady cruise I can take my hand off the stick and the plane doesn't move left or right all. Very stable without the need of another trim tab.

Be patient, make adjustments and avoid having to add a tab.

[JBPILOT]

wish that had been suggested when I was building. Think it would be easier and can always put it back where it was. Just write down what you change and where.

[bajapilot]

Brent and John, I will take another look at adjusting the rod end bearings. Do you recall how much and in what direction you had to adjust them to lift the heavy wing? And on which wing?

Also, I still haven't been able to get a feel from anyone on quantifying the heavy wing. When stating they had a heavy wing does that mean that hands off the wing slowly dropped, very common on first flights. Or, like in my case, dangerously rolls if left unattended for more then a couple of seconds. I probably have a roll rate of 10 degrees/sec or better. It will immediately displace the stick several inches to the left.

Bill

[Mich48041]

Try turning the rod end bearings out (down) one turn on the light wing, or in (up) on the heavy wing. Like John said, write down what you do so that you can put it back if needed.
Joe Gores