Thanks Guys! Bruce, your photo was really helpful for me to visualize how this would work. Do you happen to remember what those rod-end bearings are that you used at teh ends of the threaded rod, and how they are pinned to the POS-12 and to the aluminum coupler at the bottom? I think i mgiht want to replicate your design exactly.
I'm not familiar and can't give an answer but I'll say this...and it might be worth some food for thought.
I cut my teeth in cessna's and I always thought their flap control solution was elegant.
you can without looking select the next increment and don't have to hold it while the flaps travel
you can glance at it and see the set point
you can fully retract without looking and without holding the switch
it's simple...at least from my view...I have no idea about the mechanism behind the panel
I'll probably try to do something like it if I ever get around to my dream build
...if not an old fashioned johnson bar
I always hated flying those planes that required holding a momentary switch and counting seconds to guess at a flap deflection
I'm intrigued by this. I currently have just a simple toggle that i have to hold down while the flaps lower and retract. For now, I'm using the method of coutning "one Mississippi - two Mississippi - " for partial lowering of flaps without having to turn my head back and look (potentially causing disorientation flying in IMC). If there was a simple drop-in replacemnet for just the switch that would automatically raise and lower the flaps by pre-set amounts, this would be fine - the switch itself could serve as the position indicator. This would be simpler than installing a sensor and indicator. Does anybody know a specific product/part for such a switch that would work as a drop-in replacement for my simple toggle switch?A momentary push down on the switch (no need to hold), flaps extend to the next set point. Flip the switch up (no need to hold), flaps retract. However, there was nothing indicating current flap position, which is most of what this thread deals with.
Lots of ways to lick this cat - but I love my Show Planes positioning system.
I'm intrigued by this. I currently have just a simple toggle that i have to hold down while the flaps lower and retract. For now, I'm using the method of coutning "one Mississippi - two Mississippi - " for partial lowering of flaps without having to turn my head back and look (potentially causing disorientation flying in IMC). If there was a simple drop-in replacemnet for just the switch that would automatically raise and lower the flaps by pre-set amounts, this would be fine - the switch itself could serve as the position indicator. This would be simpler than installing a sensor and indicator. Does anybody know a specific product/part for such a switch that would work as a drop-in replacement for my simple toggle switch?
Again, that appears to be the Showplanes flap positioning system that I referenced and linked earlier, except you can’t tell from the switch position what the state of the flaps is. My EFIS already displays that so I haven’t needed it. Otherwise, the Showplanes FPS is a toggle switch that replaces the current switch. Installation looks pretty straightforward, even retrofitting. My issue is with the cosmetics of the switch design. I’m trying to find alternatives to that particular switch. Currently I use the same Mississippi method of flap deployment as you. That works OK…just looking for something better that might keep me from having to hold the switch down to retract.I'm intrigued by this. I currently have just a simple toggle that i have to hold down while the flaps lower and retract. For now, I'm using the method of coutning "one Mississippi - two Mississippi - " for partial lowering of flaps without having to turn my head back and look (potentially causing disorientation flying in IMC). If there was a simple drop-in replacemnet for just the switch that would automatically raise and lower the flaps by pre-set amounts, this would be fine - the switch itself could serve as the position indicator. This would be simpler than installing a sensor and indicator. Does anybody know a specific product/part for such a switch that would work as a drop-in replacement for my simple toggle switch?
Does the Showplanes system involve replacing the stock flap actuator? I looked at their installation instructions on their website and I didn't find them totally clear. On Figure 1 i was having a hard time understanding what i was looking at with the way they drew the flap actuator and positioning rod assembly.
Does anybody have close-up photos of this system installed in an RV-6,7,9?
I’ve talked to two different guys at Showplanes and both told me there was no alternative to the switch they supply.
Can't imagine why, it's just a switch. I used a Honeywell switch with a flap-shaped lever, which I bought from Steinair.
Yeah, I don’t know. I was hoping to use my existing Ray Allen rocker switch…momentary up, momentary down, and spring-loaded to neutral. What do you think? Is that feasible?
What's the maximum current rating of your existing switch? Does it carry flap motor current directly or are there relays involved?
Can't imagine why, it's just a switch. I used a Honeywell switch with a flap-shaped lever, which I bought from Steinair.
The switch itself can certainly be replaced - I'm not using their original switch - but you still need the rest of their hardware.