az_gila
Well Known Member
I suspect calculation would show the most significant load applied to that hinge point is not aerodynamic. Besides, the aero loads are not very cyclical.
Instead, take a look over your shoulder the next time you light off the engine, and later when you pull the mixture for shutdown. You'll see the tip of the elevator containing the heavy lead mass do a hard, wet-dog shake. It probably oscillates 2" or more at 3 to 5 hertz.
But wouldn't that tend to put more load on the outer bearing rather than the middle one?