[Dayton Murdock]

Flying back from Oshkosh with my son in the back seat we notice that the elevator horns were deflected up about 1? for the nose down trim I had rolled in. How much shim under the forward horizontal attach point will it take to correct this issue?

 

[Mel]

First make sure that you want to do this. Do you normally fly solo? If so then you want the trim to be probably where it is. Without a rear seat passenger, you will require less "down" trim. If you do decide that you want the trim condition for 2-up, just try adding a little at a time. I wouldn't add more than 1/8" at a time. Maybe even 1/16".

 

[RV8Squaz]

Solo, my elevator horns were deflected up less than 1/2". A 1/8" shim was perfect. I am flying an RV-8 that is on the nose heavy side. Yours may end up quite different.

Jerry
RV-8 N84JE

 

[Dayton Murdock]

If the deflection is 1" wouldn?t it take 1/2 of that to correct the trim?:

 

[n2prise]

Elevator trim varies with speed and altitude.

Dayton,

When I first started flying my RV-9A, I found that the trim not only varies with true airspeed, but also with density altitude. I put in the suggested shim height from Van's plans and found that at 12,500 feet at 160 MPH TAS, the elevator was in trail with me and my usual cross-country baggage.

Like Mel said, change the loading, the trim changes. I was happy with the fact that the type of flying I do most, cruising up high, the drag from the elevator was at minimum - - in trail with the horizontal stabilizer.

I searched my web site and found no photos of the tail while in high cruise flight.

 

[rv8guy]

I don't have any advice for you. My 8 seems to ride about a quarter inch,

but I really enjoyed meeting and camping next to you guys!

cheers