Since I started flying my -8 last August after the inspection I always thought the low speed trim stability was a little week. So after reading so many posts about the radius on all those parts we had to bend ourselves I decided to check my elevators and trim tabs. Yep - they had excessive "bow". Even though roll control was very light and stable throughout the entire envelope I discovered even my ailerons were excessively bowed as well.
Soooo....I used my hand seamer with a piece of felt and squeezed all the radius surfaces.
Pitch trim effectiveness was certainly improved through the entire envelope and the airplane actually flew a bit faster (a few MPH). However, roll control forces were much greater - at least double beyond about 2" of stick deflection. The aileron radius after I squeezed is right on target and the airplane flies level stick free (no heavy wing). At slow speed the plane roll forces are light and nimble but they we this way at higher speeds prior to the squeeze event.
Not sure the remedy here...looking for others advice. Sometimes leaving things alone is the better choice...grrrrrr
Thanks,
Ken
Soooo....I used my hand seamer with a piece of felt and squeezed all the radius surfaces.
Pitch trim effectiveness was certainly improved through the entire envelope and the airplane actually flew a bit faster (a few MPH). However, roll control forces were much greater - at least double beyond about 2" of stick deflection. The aileron radius after I squeezed is right on target and the airplane flies level stick free (no heavy wing). At slow speed the plane roll forces are light and nimble but they we this way at higher speeds prior to the squeeze event.
Not sure the remedy here...looking for others advice. Sometimes leaving things alone is the better choice...grrrrrr
Thanks,
Ken