Top Hinging Ailerons and Elevators

[s.vannostrand at kodak.com]

Whoa! that had to be exciting, Earl!!  Good thing you have a strong 
ticker!

--Lance





EHaury at aol.com
Sent by: discussion-request at nsrca.org
04/07/2003 12:58 PM
Please respond to discussion

 
        To:     discussion at nsrca.org
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        Subject:        Re: Top Hinging Ailerons and Elevators


Probably the biggest reason for top (or near top) hinging anything is 
weight savings when using very large ailerons on relatively thick wings as 
may be the case with AA 3D designs. 

If 45 degrees of travel is desired, and even if both the aileron and wing 
are beveled, a quite thick balsa edge is needed to do it conventionally. 
With top hinging the foam can be cut to the bevel and sheeted with 1/16, 
having only some 1/4" insets for the hinges. Saves a bunch of weight.

As for the gap, on my Widebody 60 with top hinging and very wide bevel on 
the bottom (actual gaps sealed) there was no deleterious effect. I did 
tape (front edge only) some 1/64 ply "covers" over the bevel opening and 
saw no change in upright flight. Nearly crashed in inverted flight as the 
covers stood up like spoilers in the now lower pressure area (top). 

Earl

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