Empennage

  • Source a new tailwheel spring
    • Current spring:
      • 19" long
      • 1" diameter / 4.5" long at fuselage end. Drilled out ~11/16" diameter for 4".
      • 5/8" diameter at tailwheel end
    • The ones available from Aviation Products won't fit; their 1" offering only tapers to 3/4.
    • Smooth taper -- i.e. no "neck" -- after the fuselage mount section
    • The two bolt holes (fuselage mount and tailwheel mount) must be parallel
      • 5/16" for fuselage mount
      • #10 (?) for tailwheel
    • No bend
    • Make it longer than normal to avoid the rudder-ding problem
    • Material is TBD
      • Aviation Products uses heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel
      • Could use Titanium Grade 5 (aircraft grade); lighter but more expensive and difficult to machine
  • Cut and re-weld the elevator control horn, with doubler
  • Add tailwheel steering arm to the rudder
    • Make the arm 1 inch shorter than the tailwheel arm
    • Attach a phenolic block on rudder post bulkhead; drill and tap screw holes in to the block
    • Use 4130
    • Cut out the bulb at the lower front of the rudder to access the front of the bulkhead
  • Verify the presence of fiberglass pads on all hinge bracket attach points
  • Add aft position light
    • Question #1: Is this necessary with the new AeroLED wingtip lights? The answer hinges on whether are viewable for the requisite 180 degrees. [Answer: not required]
    • Candidates
    • Ideally faired into the trailing edge of the rudder
  • Add elevator trim mechanism
    • Option 1: Conventional setup
      • Size of trim tab?
      • Actuator: Lever vs. wheel (prefer wheel); mount on left side wall below throttle
      • Solid wire vs. cable vs. control rods
    • Option 2: Linear actuator that tensions a spring
  • Consider implementing the upgraded rudder stop design of https://www.gilesaerobatics.org/rudder-stop-mod
  • Install one non spherical bearing in the rudder bracket (why? ask Phil)
  • Fill in the hole for the tailwheel steering cable, after making sure there's no exposed honeycomb
  • Clean up the hole for the snot tube, after making sure there's no exposed honeycomb