[Paris12Man]

Hello All, I am in the process of installing the V-Stab Assembly to the Tailcone Assembly. I've doubled check the install process and my question / issue is that I have a 3/32 gap between the V-Stab and Tailcone Assemblies when finished. Aren't they suppose to sit flush? Steve

 

[JBPILOT]

Likely normal

This has been discussed before. There is a small gap. Paint will fill it a bit. Nothing to worry about.

John Bender

 

[MartySantic]

Yep. There is a small gap. Will look fine after final paint. No filler or fairing is needed. And if you really want a fairing, it will have to wait until initial certification is complete for the E-LSA flavor.

 

[Paris12Man]

Thanks for the info. That makes me feel somewhat better. 3/32" is a fairly large gap to expect paint to make look better though. The gap is only 1/32 at the rear (I can live with that) but the front seems too large in my opinion. I'm new to the forum and tried to do a search on V-Stab but can't seem to get any previous threads. Maybe time will help on how to use the forum better. Steve

 

[Gagarin737]

Sealing the vertical stabilizer

Some more info in the RVator (see page 9) ->6-2009

 

[Paris12Man]

Thank you for the article on "sealing the vertical stabilizer" .. This was very helpful! Steve

 

[MartySantic]

Just a reminder..... Van built his RV-12 E-AB and not E-LSA.

 

[magiccarpet]

Some more info in the RVator (see page 9)

Hi all
I would like to know how many of you have sealed it, or if you are flying with this 3/32" gap. I am wondering if this is sort of an aerodynamic issue when leaving it open, or just of cosmetic nature.
Thank you !

 

[DHeal]

That "gap" is fine as is. If the VS skin touched the upper tail cone skin, it would eventually wear through - not good. I suspect that in-flight the upper tail cone skin flexes upwards a bit due to internal air pressure and the clearance may decrease somewhat. Only a problem as you approach MACH 0.092.

Cosmetically, you will not even notice it. If it really bothers you, I guess you could find some rubber edge molding strip and install it on the lower edge of the VS skin. This is something you can always do later, after painting, if you deem it desirable.

 

[PilotBrent]

It's an RV-12

Once you get over the fact that your aircraft has 12,000 pull rivet heads sticking out, a 3/32nd gap on part of the VS doesn't seem all that noticeable!

 

[rgmwa]

I initially thought about sealing it as Van did on his, or maybe adding a rubber seal of some sort, but in the end decided not to as the small gap really didn't bother me. Also the possibility of a rubber seal coming adrift and maybe fouling the control surfaces didn't appeal much either. Maybe the gap affects the airflow a bit, maybe it doesn't, but given the size of the fin I doubt that you'd notice anything. It was designed to have a gap so I left it that way.

 

[BigJohn]

I sealed it with a rubber seal designed for that purpose. Just makes it a nicer finish. Strictly personal preference.

 

[Tony_T]

My painter, an aviation specialist (and expensive), offered to install a rubber seal on the VS but I declined.

"Stock is right, even if it's wrong".