Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Any of you Clipped T' builders resize the horizontal stabilizer and elevator assembly? If so, how much did you enlarge the surfaces and what size tubing did you use to construct them? Has anyone used the Pitts-style hinges for the control surfaces?

Thanks for the info.

dd

[Vasey fan]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

Warren Pietsch (Pietsch Airshows) enlarged his tail surfaces, but I don't recall how much. It's also got a round, Pitts-like rudder. Don't know about the hinges, but I've been considering them myself.

Not a lot of help I guess, sorry.

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

Warren Pietsch (Pietsch Airshows) enlarged his tail surfaces, but I don't recall how much. It's also got a round, Pitts-like rudder. Don't know about the hinges, but I've been considering them myself.

Not a lot of help I guess, sorry.

TJ:

THank for the information. At least I know I am not breaking new ground. Does Warren Pietsch have a website, perhaps I can call him and discuss?

dd

[Acroeric]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

I am using pre war 3 hinge surfaces on my project. I also plan to counterbalance the elevator halves just a little bit to avoid the use (weight) of boost tabs.

Warren has only enlarged his rudder- his elevator is counterbalances though. On his website there is a cool video- nice guy too.

[gmackay]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

Eric,

What else do you know about Warren Pietsch's clipwing? His video was great. Is the comment about the wingspan a misprint?

[Acroeric]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

No- not a misprint. . . it is that short (24 feet I seem to remember) and it hurts him at high density altitudes and when it get really hot. We spoke about this a bit a few weeks ago. He is a really nice guy. His weighs around 1050 lbs with the 180. His mags actually extend on the aft side of the firewall- he did this in order to keep the cg more in line without adding too much tail weight. He just restored teh plane a year or so ago- he has been flying it for many years. In the video it sure rolls fast!

[Swick-T N7010S]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

Hi guys,
I owne a 180 HP Swick conversion that I'm currently rebuilding and thinking about downsizing the engine to an O-200. I used to work for Warren Pietsch in Minot a few years ago and he is the one that got me interested in the Clip wing T-craft. I have flown his airplane once to an airshow for him. His airplane has spades instead of the servo tabs that mine has and his ailerons are much lighter. His rudder is enlarged quite a bit and his elevator is counterbalanced but uses the factory style hinges.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

Our "Leisa Marie", now owned by Mark Ohlinger had the full Swick conversion and does have the enlarged rudder and the three hinges. I do like the Pitts type attachements too. The others seem to be okay, I have done slides at times with no problem. There is plenty of elevator , we used the servo assist. the aileron assist servos are a bit "busy" for what you get. I would use spades. Duane Cole flew without them for years then added them outboard. they are a good idea. i

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

Forrest:

I agree that spades are the way to go--if you need any control boost. The Swick booster tabs are too complex for the limited performance gain--no need to make something complex when it is not needed. Thanks for the information.

dd

[Acroeric]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

Guys- I slaved the boost tabs on my Swick to see if there was any measurable difference- I felt nothing different! The tabs are so small and move so little I think they are a wash. Now my Cole had spades- I really liked the ability to "tune" the feel around center and the overall light controls. Suprisingly though the Swick would roll faster, just a little heavier on the controls. The Swick does have more aileron surface area and less wingspan- that is probably why.

On this one I am leaving a provision for spades and will probably eliminate the counterbalance well also. My wing is 12 feet, ribs on 12" centers with 8' ailerons. Trying to keep it simple-

Spoke with Mike Plyler of Sherman TX yesterday- he has something really special under construction for his 180 Hp Clipwing. It is a totally new wing design similar to an EDGE or Extra, double taper and the ice cream cone airfoil - I am going to stop by to see him in April- hopefully it is done then. Anyway- Mike competes at the national level in IAC and does an awesome job.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Layout

Be careful with not using the counterbalance. Larger ailerons? Ours have more surface area, squared off at ends... The rear assist servos on the elevators are good, but they do not allow a Gene Beggs spin recovery
( power off, hands off, etc..) Actually you get buried too deep into the stall, also you need to relax back pressure and the right point to do a good snap. The Taylorcraft aileron linkage is not really the ideal set up for aerobatics ; If I do another clip ( all the stuff is here) I will use either horns like a J-3 OR the Model D system with the differiential removed. I will find and post more pictures of out clip. There is a another section of the discussion group on clip wings maybe after the Holiday we can move over there so all can see and enjoy.