Non-engineer rudder idea for OSH gust events

[BobRv4]

Remove the rudder. Store in airplane.

[RVbySDI]

Originally Posted by Tooch

This may sound stupid but how hard would it be to just take off the rudder for the week? P.S. I'm not a builder

Originally Posted by Untainted123

That's my suggestion posted above: For most, they are there at least 3 days, and many for the week. We almost always have advanced warning of _some_ kind of high winds coming, by at least a few hours. Go out there, remove the 3 attach bolts and the control cables, stash the hardware and the rudder in the cockpit, put it back on after the storm is past. Only wrinkle is that many probably have hard wired tail lights, but I would rather splice a wire back or convert it to a plug than fix a rudder.

The talk about removing the rudder has pretty much been only discussing the act of taking the rudder off the plane. Thinking it is only 3 bolts and the rudder cable bolts, oh yes, the light wiring too, is all that needs to be done is looking at it in its simplest form. Although it may seem straightforward in theory, the reality is there is some difficulty in doing so in real life and to do it in an environment such as an air show vs in the hangar may also prove a little more troublesome than first thought.

However easy or difficult the removal of the rudder is in the field, it will pale to the difficulty of putting the rudder back on in the field. Those freaking washers and nuts can be a real pain to get installed on those three bolts in a shop. I cannot imagine how much cussing I would be doing trying to put those bolts, nuts, and washers on out there in that environment. Ok, I can imagine it. I have had to do so before, and at OSH no less, just a few short years ago. I am going to be on my third rudder now having had it destroyed twice now at OSH.

[BillL]

Originally Posted by Walt

As soon as I find the time, I'm going to install the original 8 rudder I built (supplied with the early 7 kits),
seeing all this damage definitely has increased my incentive.

Same situation, hanging in the basement. If you do I will.

[Walt]

Still using the “Gusbuster”, been to osh every year all week with some pretty serious storms, hasn’t failed me yet. To bad he gave up making them.
https://vansairforce.net/community/s...ad.php?t=97734

[Walt]

Originally Posted by BillL

Same situation, hanging in the basement. If you do I will.

Need to order some parts to complete, counterweight, fairings, rod ends. Took it down from its shelf today and cleaned it up.
Gonna involve some paint fiberglass work as well so not really a small task, but I’m gonna do it!
I think the smaller rudder also looks better so that another plus.
I even brought home the RV8 plans to look up the P’N’s

[BillL]

Originally Posted by Walt

Need to order some parts to complete, counterweight, fairings, rod ends. Took it down from its shelf today and cleaned it up.
Gonna involve some paint fiberglass work as well so not really a small task, but I’m gonna do it!
I think the smaller rudder also looks better so that another plus.
I even brought home the RV8 plans to look up the P’N’s

We can not forget the rudder stops too. They revert to the original design. Ugh - more paint.

[wirejock]

How about a big sock? Basically a bag that fits the VS and Rudder. Some bungies to hold it down. VS and Rudder become one unit. Less flopping back and forth.

[PilotjohnS]

Originally Posted by wirejock

How about a big sock? Basically a bag that fits the VS and Rudder. Some bungies to hold it down. VS and Rudder become one unit. Less flopping back and forth.

Unless you have batons on both sides, I think the sock will tend to push the ruder over hard left or right

[Untainted123]

Originally Posted by RVbySDI

However easy or difficult the removal of the rudder is in the field, it will pale to the difficulty of putting the rudder back on in the field.

I’m sure if we got all the Steve Ingra[ha]m’s together, it wouldn’t take too long
And yes, I _can_ imagine the stream of cuss words coming from you while putting it back on

I’m sure getting all those washers and what not in there is a pain, especially up in the air on the A model.

Didn’t you have moving blankets or cardboard and Saran Wrap around your wings also? Could you just do the same around the rudder/VS? Might be the best idea yet.

[wirejock]

Originally Posted by Untainted123

I’m sure if we got all the Steve Ingra[ha]m’s together, it wouldn’t take too long
And yes, I _can_ imagine the stream of cuss words coming from you while putting it back on

I’m sure getting all those washers and what not in there is a pain, especially up in the air on the A model.

Didn’t you have moving blankets or cardboard and Saran Wrap around your wings also? Could you just do the same around the rudder/VS? Might be the best idea yet.

I like that idea. Keep precut sections of Coroplast in the plane. Buy a roll of saran wrap and go to town. When it's time, just snip it with scissors.