Best place and method for rudder trim wedge installation

[rick57]

I have an RV plastic trim wedge for the rudder. Where is the best place to install on the rear edge of the rudder to achieve desired effect? Thanks again. Rick

 

[bjdecker]

Do you have a tail nav/strobe?

 

[RV6_flyer]

I have an RV plastic trim wedge for the rudder. Where is the best place to install on the rear edge of the rudder to achieve desired effect? Thanks again. Rick

Anywhere on the trailing edge will work.

Many people will put it towards the bottom so that it is not at eye level / not an eyesore.

 

[Roadjunkie1]

I have an RV plastic trim wedge for the rudder. Where is the best place to install on the rear edge of the rudder to achieve desired effect? Thanks again. Rick

Where mine is. Size and shape were determined by duct taping various shapes and sizes of wood in various locations on the rudder before I found the exact place it worked the best. She cruises feet-on-the-floor!

Trial-and-error but you get to do a lot of flying to figure it out! If you search this topic, there has been a LOT of recent discussion on just that!

 

[andoman]

A small gurney flap is an option. Light; easy to fab and trim to length.

 

[fixnflyguy]

There may be other things affecting your trim you need to look at first, but more of us have rudder trim wedges/tabs than those who do not. Test fly with it taped on first, make sure its the size needed for ball centered at stable cruise. you can see mine looking at stabilizer. Bigger than I wanted, but it worked perfect. Made mine from RC model balsa trailing edge stock, primed and painted to match. I painted my plane before first flight. After the tape/test/trim/paint, I prosealed it in place.

 

[RV7Guy]

I have a 4"x2" trim tab molded into my rudder on my 7. On my previous 7, I had one in the same location. Very effective. So, I put one on the new plane and molded into the rudder. Only took 2 flights of adjustments to get it so at cruise speed you can fly feet on the floor. One inch is exposed past the TE of the rudder for adjustment. You can see it in the picture, barely.

 

[bjdecker]

I have a 4"x2" trim tab molded into my rudder on my 7. On my previous 7, I had one in the same location. Very effective. So, I put one on the new plane and molded into the rudder. Only took 2 flights of adjustments to get it so at cruise speed you can fly feet on the floor. One inch is exposed past the TE of the rudder for adjustment. You can see it in the picture, barely.


View attachment 91048

And you won a Gold Lindy with that...

 

[rick57]

Do you have a tail nav/strobe?

No, just wingtip strobes.

 

[Ralph Inkster]

I have a 4"x2" trim tab molded into my rudder on my 7. On my previous 7, I had one in the same location. Very effective. So, I put one on the new plane and molded into the rudder. Only took 2 flights of adjustments to get it so at cruise speed you can fly feet on the floor. One inch is exposed past the TE of the rudder for adjustment. You can see it in the picture, barely.


View attachment 91048

Just curious, which inspired which... floor -> plane paint scheme, or plane -> floor scheme?

 

[Kyle Boatright]

The higher you place the wedge, the more effective. Lower, it will be in the wake of the canopy/fuselage and will lose authority - whether 1% or 20%, I have no idea. Meaning you'll need a slightly larger tab if you mount it low. On both of my airplanes, I have black areas on the trailing edge of the rudder and placed the wedges on top of those black areas to better hide them. I was more concerned with aesthetics than absolute aerodynamic perfection.

 

[rick57]

The higher you place the wedge, the more effective. Lower, it will be in the wake of the canopy/fuselage and will lose authority - whether 1% or 20%, I have no idea. Meaning you'll need a slightly larger tab if you mount it low. On both of my airplanes, I have black areas on the trailing edge of the rudder and placed the wedges on top of those black areas to better hide them. I was more concerned with aesthetics than absolute aerodynamic perfection.

I was thinking behind the middle hinge.