Hello All,
Time to re-skin my rudder for rivet cracks. In the category of "doing way more than required for an otherwise simple repair" I have researched the option of converting to a counterbalanced rudder for an RV-4. Previous threads pointed to Dave Anders RV-4 as having one. It sounds like he built it but I can find no details on how other than one quick reference to a riveted trailing edge. Smoky posted something a long time ago about his buddy Hollywood having one on an RV-4, but no construction details there either. And other references herein for this topic are for RV-8 tails on an RV-4.
I'm aware of the need to keep tail weight to a minimum for CG considerations. So I'd prefer not to put an RV-8 tail on. I'd much rather keep to the overall dimensions of the RV-4 vertical empennage.
Also, doing anything that would reduce the probability of flutter and potentially increase Vne (to an RV-8 value or even better a Dave Anders CAFE value) seems like a great benefit! Along these lines, going from .016 skins to .020 skins to (possibly) assist in flutter reduction seems prudent.
Would anyone with first hand knowledge of building, modifying, or having details of a counterbalanced RV-4 rudder please chime in.
Thanks,
Tuna--
Time to re-skin my rudder for rivet cracks. In the category of "doing way more than required for an otherwise simple repair" I have researched the option of converting to a counterbalanced rudder for an RV-4. Previous threads pointed to Dave Anders RV-4 as having one. It sounds like he built it but I can find no details on how other than one quick reference to a riveted trailing edge. Smoky posted something a long time ago about his buddy Hollywood having one on an RV-4, but no construction details there either. And other references herein for this topic are for RV-8 tails on an RV-4.
I'm aware of the need to keep tail weight to a minimum for CG considerations. So I'd prefer not to put an RV-8 tail on. I'd much rather keep to the overall dimensions of the RV-4 vertical empennage.
Also, doing anything that would reduce the probability of flutter and potentially increase Vne (to an RV-8 value or even better a Dave Anders CAFE value) seems like a great benefit! Along these lines, going from .016 skins to .020 skins to (possibly) assist in flutter reduction seems prudent.
Would anyone with first hand knowledge of building, modifying, or having details of a counterbalanced RV-4 rudder please chime in.
Thanks,
Tuna--