From a performance standpoint, the ideal incidence of the horizontal stabilizer would result in the elevator being in the neutral position in cruise at a typical CG, right?

 

My ES cruises with the elevator deflected downward enough to expose the elevator counterweight arm about 1/4" above the horiz stab.   That's at a fairly forward CG. As the CG moves aft the deflection increases slightly.  Doesn't that suggest that the optimum incidence on my horiz stab would be positive, not negative .6 like the TSIO ESs are doing?  My horiz stab is mounted at zero.

 

I'm probably at the bottom of the list when it comes to aeronautical engineering, but it seems to make sense that the issue isn't the incidence of the horiz stab but the advertised forward CG limit, or the effectiveness of the elevator (size, shape, deflection, etc.).

 

Mike Easley

Colorado Springs