----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Friends.
I think a Coupe does not need gust locks. The perception that the gust locks
are supposed to prevent any control surface movement is again something that
comes from the tail dragger world. With those planes there is no other
option than locking the controls positively.
That is because the controls are loose and lightweight-balanced, an easy
thing for the wind to play with.
The wind can get under the control surfaces and make it go through the full
movement until it hits the stop hard. Bang. Then the other way. Bang.
Doesn't make the controls any better when they are beating at the stops like
a hammer. I saw tail draggers doing that with the ailerons in gusty wind (it
needs gusty wind to do that). Thus by the way gust locks.
How is the situation in a coupe? The nose wheel locks the ailerons and
rudders positively. No way that the wind can move the rudders or the
ailerons from one stop to the other. We are having a so to say built in gust
lock.
If you are having rudder pedals, then it's a different story. These need a
measure of security. For that I can only imagine a big clamp that goes over
the whole rudder assembly. Two thin boards from the leading to the trailing
edge of one rudder , clamped together with a screw and a wing nut, attached
on one rudder should suffice.One could also tie the rudder pedals.
What's left ? Ahh the elevator.
The elevator is a hard thing to move . It is heavy compared to the ailerons
and the rudders, it also points downwards. Therefore it can not be such an
easy victim of gusts moving over the airport. The wind would just push down
on the tail harder or less harder. If the wind is being able to get under
the elevator and push it up, that's not a gust anymore, that is what I
consider a storm. And even then, it will be very unlikely that the wind will
push the elevator from one stop to the other and wear it out that way.
As a preventive measure to avoid an unpiloted takeoff of the plane in a
storm I think it is enough to set the trim to cruise. If the trim is well
adjusted, it will keep the nose of the plane down at speeds way over 120
MPH. (An empty plane is nose heavy anyway)
I know, it is frustrating. Ones again something that the tail-dragger pilots
do and we don't need to do. Makes you feel less important with a coupe in
the flight line. It is also against the learned behavior to do like everyone
else does. But see the reality. The Coupe is a very modern and advanced
plane. Tail draggers are relics of a time where aircraft technology was not
as advanced as it is today. They need all that extra. Ercoupes don't.
BUT Folks.
Feel free to clamp up your plane where ever you want. If it makes you feel
better, fine. That's what's important - feeling good. That's why we bought
the planes in the first place.
Hartmut
N3330H
----- Original Message -----
From: "Walt Uebele" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'alan1'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'Coupers Tech'"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 3:09 AM
Subject: RE: [COUPERS-TECH] Gust locks
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Alan,
I created my "gust lock" the cheap and easy way. Since the
nose
landing gear tire provided friction for the ailerons and rudder, I
fashioned
a device using two strips of plywood to hold the elevator in a neutral
position. I created this device to be easily clamped in place using bolts
and wing nuts. I also painted it in loud colors and flagged it to be
ridiculously obvious.
Modifying the existing control column to use a pin was not
viable since it would involve technical research and a 337. The only
drawback to my system was that during an overnight cross country flight
this
"elevator gust lock" would take precious stowage space in the baggage
compartment.
Walt Uebele
N94113
_____
From: alan1 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 1:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [COUPERS-TECH] Gust locks
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Is it OK to build and install a pair of gust locks adjacent to the rudders
that hold the elevator in a horizontal position?
Or should the locking be done at the control column?
O
*<<<---N99616--->>>*
||
/ \
O O
Alan
============================================================================
==
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
==============================================================================
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
==============================================================================
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
