VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Main > RV General Discussion/News
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-06-2007, 10:16 AM
prkaye prkaye is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,116
Default wing twist

What will the symptoms be of a wing with a slight twist?
I am just at the point of riveting my top wing skin on. I've been using the plumb-bob method to measure twist (as described in the plans). I've got wooden wing stands and a very uneven garage floor so it's been a lot of shimming and clamping the ends of the main spar to try to get the twist out before I rivet the skins on. Right now I've got it just barely to Vans' published tolerance (3/32 inch difference between inboard and outboard plumb-bob string to rear spar flange distance).
I have a strong suspicion that even though I'm able to clamp the twist mostly out now, after I rivet the skins on and un-clamp the wing it will do what it wants to, and I doubt it will have zero twist. Does this create a very dangerous situation?
With such a long spar (-9A) getting rid of wing twist seems to be quite a challenge (to me)!
__________________
Phil
RV9A (SB)
Flying since July 2010!
Ottawa, Canada
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-06-2007, 12:26 PM
rickmellor rickmellor is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 219
Default Hopefully there's some tolerance

I have QB wings and the finished product had 0.3 degrees of twist in them. That works out to be about a .5" offset between the tip and root (y=tan(0.3) x (9x12)). I think the wing panel is about 9' if memory serves me.

-Rick
__________________
RV7A (aborted in 2007 )
Brooklyn, NY
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-06-2007, 04:04 PM
Kevin Horton's Avatar
Kevin Horton Kevin Horton is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 2,357
Default

Small amounts of twist will cause a small increase in drag, and may cause you to spend a few additional hours in the flight test phase tweaking ailerons and flaps to get the aircraft to fly hands off. There may also be a bit more of a tendency for one wing to drop at the stall. If you have effective stall warning, and you recover at stall warning if you ever inadvertently encounter it, then this is probably quite acceptable. If you don't have effective stall warning, a wing drop at the stall probably increases the risk of an accident.

Do the best you can to build a wing without twist, and then never measure it again.
__________________
Kevin Horton
RV-8
Moses Lake, WA, USA
http://www.kilohotel.com/rv8/
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:12 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.