Bill,
The solution that Gary advocates (thickening the trim tab) is consistent with the idea of getting to the edges of the boundary layer. In fact, if you look at the Cheetah/Tiger aircraft, you will find that while the flaps are sharp-edged, the ailerons are fairly thick almost to the trailing edge, where they close out with a 45-degree taper. The ailerons are kept thick so that they push against the boundary layer edges on top and bottom, and there's no deadband that would accompany a thin aileron traversing a thick boundary layer when the pilot moves the control wheel.
Charley
On Dec 20, 2012, at 2:38 PM, Bill Bradburry wrote:
Gary, Excellent idea! I can try different sizes
and shapes and not even change the original tab until I am satisfied! I love this list! Bill B
From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Gary Casey
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012
8:22 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: Legacy aileron
trim tab
I've forgotten whether or not the Legacy has the thick aileron
trailing edge as in other Lancairs. In my ES I drilled a bunch of holes
in the standard tab, which is just half of a piano hinge. Then I cut a
piece of prepreg about 1 inch larger, cut a slot in the honeycomb to fit and
then epoxied it over the hinge. It is now about the same thickness as the
trailing edge, making it an extension of the aileron. Works great.
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