Dan Prichard wrote: > I can't find any information on width of the horizontal stabilizer when > using the AS5048 configuration. The plans show 71" for the spar width. > Has > this been carried through to the new shape?
I made those templates a long time ago, and I either didn't think to put the width on them, or left it to the builder to decide. The main intent of these templates was that anybody following the plans could substitute these airfoil templates and make no other real changes (other than incidence) to get a "free lunch" improvement in performance. My advice at the time was to make the horizontal stab 7' long total, and given my N56ML experience, I still stand by that. Widening the horizontal stab 6" on each side makes a big improvement in pitch sensitivity. I'd also make the vertical stab and rudder longer like N56ML. That thing slips like crazy and can handle some hefty crosswinds. I forget exactly how much taller mine are, but probably somewhere around 4"-6". I'll measure them next time I'm at the hangar, probably this weekend. While I'm on the subject, I built my horizontal stab adjustable (on the ground), and set it to .72 degrees. After flying it, I readjusted it to about 1.4 degrees (doubled it by adding another 3/32" shim to the rear spar), which was just about perfect. For those wondering what templates we're talking about, the link to them is at the bottom of http://www.krnet.org/as504x/templates.html . The extra thickness of this horizontal stab has another benefit...you can mount a trim servo in the elevator. I spent most of yesterday replacing the broken "nyrod" housing on N891JF, although I'd have just moved the trim servo to the elevator if I'd thought it would fit. The blue plastic nyrod housing fatigued and broke because of the flex cycles it endured as the elevator was moved up and down. I hope I never have to do that again, but if I do, I know how now...just grit my teeth, grind out the glass and flox around entrance and exit, reinstall, and glop it back up with glass, flox, and micro. This morning I sanded it down to shape and it doesn't look half bad, although I still have some finer sanding and painting to do. Half the battle is finally committing to do the job, and getting on with it! See http://www.n56ml.com/n891jf/nyrod.jpg for a photo... Mark Langford ML at N56ML.com website at http://www.N56ML.com --------------------------------------------------------
