Aeronciation

[Flynlow]

My friend is learning how to fly FW in a Champ. I flew him to his lesson in the Chief. Here's the story: http://flynlow.blogspot.com/2012/03/aer ... ekend.html

[Matt]

Jack,

Thanks for the recount of two certainly interesting learning days for Travis and yourself.
Sounds, like he might need a couple more motivation pills, though, before being completely addicted to taildraggers and Aeroncas.
Wonderful photographs, too! Love the one with the dog in front of your Chief.

Matt

[skyking3286]

Can you spot the trim tab on backwards on the Chief?

[Flynlow]

You're quite welcome Matt. While Travis did get the tailwheel bug, he just bought a fully restored Luscombe! The Chief is much more comfortable side-by-side, but the Luscombe sure is a pretty little plane.

Sadie is my friend's lab and she always like to be around us when we go flying. Likes to pose for a photo too!

Jack,

Thanks for the recount of two certainly interesting learning days for Travis and yourself.
Sounds, like he might need a couple more motivation pills, though, before being completely addicted to taildraggers and Aeroncas.
Wonderful photographs, too! Love the one with the dog in front of your Chief.

Matt

Mark - I think it's just a bad photo! The trim tab is correct.

Can you spot the trim tab on backwards on the Chief?

[james gevay]

Jack, thanks for the photos and the nice story.
But, that trim tab is the wrong shape and it's not the photos. Of course most shapes would work as well as the stock shape.

[Flynlow]

Thanks.

I'm not an Aeronca expert, so I wouldn't begin to argue that it's the right shape. He, however, didn't say it was the wrong shape. He said it was backwards and it's not!

Jack, thanks for the photos and the nice story.
But, that trim tab is the wrong shape and it's not the photos. Of course most shapes would work as well as the stock shape.

[Matt]

I'd say, it's one of two possibilities:

1) Burt Rutan redesigned the original trim tab. By increasing the aft area of the tab, it does not need to be bent as much as the original shape. Hence, aerodynamics and effectiveness both are improved.

2) Jack was about to be overtaken by a 100 mph Bald Eagle, when, in desperation, he deflected the rudder and the eagle hit the original trim tab with his head.

[Paul Agaliotis]

As long as it flies straight it's OK by me.

You see a lot of people struggling with some kind of factory item that was junk when it was new, all for the sake of originality. If you plan to fly the airplane, take advantage of the progress made in aviation. Except flat panels. They look stupid in antique airplanes. Remember, a pig in a tuxedo is still a pig.
Paul

[skyking3286]

What I meant by backwards is that it looks like the right shape for the trim tab, but its rivted/screwed
on to the rudder with the trailing edge forward and the forward edge trailing. It's 180 degrees off.
Or the trim tab is facing the right direction, but the Chief is facing the wrong way! The fat part
goes on the rudder, not the smaller edge.