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Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:04:34 -0400
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Subject: Re: Partial Built 320
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If possible, you might consider checking the alignment of the wings and ta=
il.  It doesn't take that long if the wings are attached.

Wings -- For a fast-build 320 there should be a pencil line scribed on the=
 wingtip rib.  If the wingtip is attached you won't be able to do this. =
 Put a digital level on the pencil lines and make sure that they are both=
 at the same angle.  The plane need not be leveled for this, but the wings=
 need to be attached.  If the bottom skins are not on the wings, you can=
 adjust this when you close them.

Horizontal Tail -- I think you need to get the plane level for this, at le=
ast wings level.  Nose up or down doesn't matter.  Use a water level (long=
 vinyl tubing from Home Depot with water in it) to make sure the wingtips=
 are at the same height, i.e., wings level.  Then use the water level to=
 make sure the horizontal tail tips are at the same height as each other.=
  This ensures that the wings and tail are parallel to each other.  Less=
 important is that the tail is "square" with respect to the wing.  Run a=
 steel tape measure from the wingtip to the tail tip.  Ensure that this di=
stance is the same on both sides.

Vertical tail -- This one is hard to measure and most Lancairs, I suspect,=
 have a bit of a twist.  It does not seem to be a problem and can be fixed=
 later.  But a quick check would be to have the wings level and run a plum=
b-bob from the top of the tail to the floor.  There will be a tiny hole in=
 the fuselage a few inches forward of the aft end.  Run your plumb-bob str=
ing thru that and get another mark on the floor.  Use the plumb-bob on the=
 center of the firewall (as close as you can get it).  Take the string and=
 see if the dots line up.

Note that I didn't say anything about the fuselage.  The flying surfaces=
 need to be aligned to each other but the fuselage can be cockeyed and it=
 won't really matter.

By the way, if the horizontal tail is not attached and you have a small ta=
il, my recommendation (yes, an opinion) is to get rid of it and get a big=
 tail (it's the same as the Legacy tail).  The handling qualities are more=
 forgiving with the larger tail, and this has been documented by experienc=
ed test pilots (look at EAA Chapter 1000 website) and the Australian FAA=
 (whatever they call themselves).  You can certainly learn to adapt to the=
 small tail, and those that have the small tails are happy with them, but=
 if you have a choice I think it would be silly to use the small one.  But=
 as you can tell, there is a wide variety of opinion on this and I have ve=
ry little hands-on experience in this area.  From what I've heard, I would=
 not cut off a small tail and replace it with a big one, but I wouldn't pu=
t on a small one today.

As far as other kit comments are concerned, Bill Hallerson gave a pretty=
 good list.  As far as a "winter project" is concerned, I think you're loo=
king at about 1000 hours hands-on to finish this kit.

- Rob Wolf


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<font color=3D'black' size=3D'2' face=3D'arial'>
<div>If possible, you might consider checking the alignment of the wings=
 and tail.&nbsp; It doesn't take that long if the wings are attached.</div=
>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>Wings -- For a fast-build 320 there should be a pencil line scribed=
 on the wingtip rib.&nbsp; If the wingtip is attached you won't be able to=
 do this.&nbsp; Put a digital level on the pencil lines and make sure that=
 they are both at the same angle.&nbsp; The plane need not be leveled for=
 this, but the wings need to be attached.&nbsp; If the bottom skins are no=
t on the wings, you can adjust this when you close them.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>Horizontal Tail -- I think you need to get the plane level for this,=
 at least wings level.&nbsp; Nose up or down doesn't matter.&nbsp; Use a=
 water level (long vinyl tubing from Home Depot with water in it) to make=
 sure the wingtips are at the same height, i.e., wings level.&nbsp; Then=
 use the water level to make sure the horizontal tail tips are at the same=
 height as each other.&nbsp; This ensures that the wings and tail are para=
llel to each other.&nbsp; Less important is that the tail is "square" with=
 respect to the wing.&nbsp; Run a steel tape measure from the wingtip to=
 the tail tip.&nbsp; Ensure that this distance is the same on both sides.<=
/div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>Vertical tail -- This one is hard to measure and most Lancairs, I sus=
pect, have a bit of a twist.&nbsp; It does not seem to be a problem and ca=
n be fixed later.&nbsp; But a quick check would be to have the wings level=
 and run a plumb-bob from the top of the tail to the floor.&nbsp; There wi=
ll be a tiny hole in the fuselage a few inches forward of the aft end.&nbs=
p; Run your plumb-bob string thru that and get another mark on the floor.&=
nbsp; Use the plumb-bob on the center of the firewall (as close as you can=
 get it).&nbsp; Take the string and see if the dots line up.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>Note that I didn't say anything about the fuselage.&nbsp; The flying=
 surfaces need to be aligned to each other but the fuselage can be cockeye=
d and it won't really matter.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>By the way, if the horizontal tail is not attached and you have a sma=
ll tail, my recommendation (yes, an opinion) is to get rid of it and get=
 a big tail (it's the same as the Legacy tail).&nbsp; The handling qualiti=
es are more forgiving with the larger tail, and this has been documented=
 by experienced test pilots (look at EAA Chapter 1000 website) and the Aus=
tralian FAA (whatever they call themselves).&nbsp; You can certainly learn=
 to adapt to the small tail, and those that have the small tails are happy=
 with them, but if you have a choice I think it would be silly to use the=
 small one.&nbsp; But as you can tell, there is a wide variety of opinion=
 on this and I have very little hands-on experience in this area.&nbsp; Fr=
om what I've heard, I would not cut off a small tail and replace it with=
 a big one, but I wouldn't put on a small one today.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>As far as other kit comments are concerned, Bill Hallerson gave a pre=
tty good list.&nbsp; As far as a "winter project" is concerned, I think yo=
u're looking at about 1000 hours hands-on to finish this kit.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>- Rob Wolf</div>


<div style=3D"CLEAR: both"></div>
</font>

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