Elevator and Rudder Balance Question

[Bill.Peyton]

Since my fuse and wing kit are a month late I decided to use the down time to do a little pre-paint work on the empenage. I ran 2 inch glass cloth 6 oz. strip around the elevator tips and all the rest of the fiberglass fairing attachment points to stabilize the joint, and using body filler, faired them into there respective control surfaces. I would like to check the balance of the control surfaces to verify them prior to paint, which will occur way in the future.
I do not have the final inspection and flight test document yet, but do understand that the elevator is 37.5 inch lbs and the rudder 30.8 inch lbs.

Does Vans provide a procedure to check the balance after finish and paint? Has anyone checked this after body work and paint and had to add or remove weight?
Bill

 

[jimgreen]

I had the same questions about control surface balancing prior to painting.
I phoned Van's and the guy who answered (Gus, I believe) said it is a non issue on the RV designs. He claimed that certain other aircraft are quite sensitive but not the RVs. I hope someone with experience chimes in to confirm this.

 

[jimgreen]

I don't know if I read your question correctly. Are you talking 'weight and balance' or control surface balancing?

 

[Bill.Peyton]

Control surface balancing

 

[L.Adamson]

Not familiar with balancing the 10s, but it's common to add weight after painting.....especially if you removed some originally. I had to add about 5 oz. back to my RV6A elevators after paint.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

 

[Wayne Gillispie]

I will leave mine a little nose heavy...

then rebalance after paint.

 

[Bill.Peyton]

I am really looking for the spec and the procedure to check the balance at this point. I thought that the RV-10 wanted a trailing edge heavy by a minimum amount.


Follow-Up....

I spoke to Joe at Vans, who emailed me the data. It appears that the limits are specified as follows; Balance limit (in-lb) trailing edge heavy.

Elevators 37.5
Rudder 30.8
Aileron 16.8