Rudder Trim Tab

[alwaysoar]

Re: Rudder Trim Tab

They are very small, so drag would not be significant. I've seen them in major catalogues (can't remember which) and they are used a lot in gliders. Go to wingsandwheels.com, I think they have them. The best ones can be pulled inside so they are flush with the window when not in use. They help in gliders, probably would in T's

[Dano"T"]

Re: Rudder Trim Tab

Thanks for all the responses guys. I had a hard time getting my buddy to believe me on the direction of the trim tab. He is a new pilot and he did not trust me...he figured because the rudder goes right to turn left, he needed the tab to be bent right also. You guys are right about the re-installation of the tab also. The plane was recently recovered and he lost his rudder tab. The holes were there under the fabric, so all we had to do was put 3 screws in. I flight tested it for him and collected my bet (he bought lunch). He thanked me for talking him into buying a T-Craft.....he almost bought a runout Cessna 150! Now he has a beautiful 1941 BC-65 that will serve him well for many years.

Dan

[flyguy]

Re: Rudder Trim Tab

I just remembered what made me decide that my problem would require adjusting the wash in/out. Someone correct me on this if I'm wrong as I did this many months ago. If you start with everthing going straight on a calm day by using whatever inputs are required, and let go of the controls, then:
If it is the rudder trim the nose will move left or right and then the wing will rotate down.(or up)
If it is a heavy wing the wing will go down first and then the nose will start around.
As I remember at one point my left wing would drop and then the plane would more or less stabilize and fly straight ahead that way, ie both tweaks were off.

But then I just read somewhere that one of the engineers at PIPER didn't think that ailerons caused yaw, so maybe I'm about to be clobbered here.
Darryl

[alwaysoar]

Re: Rudder Trim Tab

Look out at your ailerons when you're flying straight and level. If you have to hold aileron to keep the wings level, and you notice that one aileron is down and one is up to keep the wings level, then adjust the aft strut screws. You should adjust the strut of the heavy wing first (thats the one with the down aileron) then the other wing only if necessary. Get ahold of an A&P and take short hops, then land and fine tune, go up again as necessary. In my experience with this, I just started out flying straight and level and kept adjusting until I got it right. After that was done, I installed my rudder tab and adjusted that until I could fly it hands off. All this was done with the advice of Forrest thru email and phone. The one thing that is right about my T is the rigging.

[Bill Weiser]

Re: Rudder Trim Tab

I could not help mentioning that when I got my plane, N43092, I always had to keep the left wing up, so that hands off flying wasn't possible. The correction the mechanic and I made was adjusting the strut lengths. Making the left wing strut longer and the right wing strut shorter. I suspect that who ever recovered the plane last never tuned it up afterwards. Now on a smooth morning I can fly with just my feet! So, my thought is, don't start adding trim tabs until your sure the struts are adjusted right, else you'll be slip-sliding away!
Bill Weiser
Boise, Idaho

[flyguy]

Re: Rudder Trim Tab

Alwaysoar (sorry, don't know your name) and Bill pretty much nailed it. Good advice from both.
Darryl