lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

John,

I think you are mixing up the counterweight and the bob-weight. The counterweight is indeed there to prevent flutter by mass balancing the control surface. Removing the bob-weight will reduce the stick force/g. Lancair experimented with reducing or eliminating the bob-weight many years ago. I don't recall the details however.

Chris Zavatson

N91CZ

360std

http://www.n91cz.net/

On Tuesday, March 18, 2014 10:33 AM, Chris Zavatson <chris_zavatson@yahoo.com> wrote:

Jack,

The bob-weight changes the slope of the stick force gradient. It is already very shallow. Removing the weight would make it even more so.

What is the nature of the 'inconsistent' altitude hold, a long and slow meandering (likely a static source lag issue) or a short and quick movement (likely a gain or sensitivity issue).

Chris Zavatson

N91CZ

360std

http://www.n91cz.com/

On Tuesday, March 18, 2014 6:55 AM, Jack Dysart <jldysart1@gmail.com> wrote:

My Tru Trak autopilot altitude hold is inconsistent, and opinions are that the servo had difficulty working properly because of the mass of the bobweight on the elevator idler arm. One possibility is to remove the weight and expect more pitch sensitivity (lighter stick force) in turns. Has anyone found other alternatives?

What if the mass of the bobweight is reduced?

My servo is behind the seat and connected to a ring clamp on the elevator control tube with a smaller, roughly parallel, rod with bearing ends.

Jack Dysart