REFLECTOR: Aileron Rolls

Laurence Coen lwcoen at hotmail.com
Mon Aug 9 10:17:12 CDT 2004


Lynn,

You can get a "Smart Coupler" for $250 that will allow your GPS to control
your NavAid. See www.porcine.com .

Larry

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lynn Gallup" <LGallup at mn.rr.com>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2004 7:57 PM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Aileron Rolls


> Fred,
> Thanks for all the good comparative info for me. I'm going to re-set my
> ailerons above the trailing edge where I had them originally. (I only set
> them below the leading edge for the "self centering" experiment.)
>
> Some questions:
> -- What put you on to the idea that your canard trailing edge was
extending
> too far aft? (The only thing I have heard of to open up the slot between
the
> canard and the elevator was to remove the cuffs on the elevator leading
> edge.)
> -- Do you have steel or aluminum torque tubes in the wings?
> -- Is yours a short wing or a long wing?
>
> Your airplane is better than mine on stall. With myself and another 200
> pounder in the front seat I don't want to have the wheels touch below 85
> knots.
> I think your choice of longer ailerons was very smart - I wish I had them.
> On my airplane the movements to keep the airplane on course are certainly
> small and light; it's just that I have to be constantly making them and on
> long flights this can be tiring. I have a NavAid autopilot which gives me
> some relief in wing-leveler mode but it doesn't track VORs worth a hoot.
And
> I don't know for sure if there is even a way to couple my GPS-295 to it.
> Regards,
> Lynn
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Fred Marconi" <fmarconi at bellsouth.net>
> To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2004 10:35 AM
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Aileron Rolls
>
>
> >   Lynn,
> >
> >   Thanks for your communications.  The aileron rolls were done by the
test
> > pilot, Dave Manary the day the plane flew for the first time.  He did
> three
> > or four left and right rolls.  He stated that he had no problems and
that
> > the plane performed well.  I have it in my agenda to call him to go out
> and
> > have him teach me how to do the rolls.
> >
> >   My ailerons are one foot larger than called for in the instructions.
> > Since I have never flown at length another Velocity it is difficult for
me
> > to make comparisons.   My Velocity was the first complex high
performance
> > plane I have flown.  I have now 60 hours in my velocity and I find,
> barring
> > my limited experience, that the plane behaves well at 90 - 80 kts.  The
> > biggest problem that I had was my stall speed.  This was due to the fact
> > that the trailing edge of the canard extended too far over the elevator.
> I
> > had to cut it back 1/4 inch.  Now I come over the threshhold at 80 and
> touch
> > doen at 78 with two people and easily keep the nose up at touchdown.  I
do
> > not feel at any time that I do not have aileron control.  I hold my
stick
> > with my fingers and keep a light grip making slight movements as needed.
> I
> > have played with my ailerons adjusting them and find that for my taste
1/8
> > of an inch above the trailing edge of the wings gives me the response I
> > like.  If I set them even of below the trailing edge they become too
heavy
> > and slugish.
> >
> >   On your explanation for long trips and getting of course due to small
> > adjustments.  I find the aileros exptremely responsive where slight
> pressure
> > will bring about a roll.  I found the autopilot, when it was working,
had
> no
> > problem to keep the plane on the GPS course.  Since the movements to
bring
> > about a small course change is so light, I wonder if aileron centering
> > becomes an issue. It seems that aileron centering becomes an issue
during
> > wide deflection of the aileron rather than small roll adjustments.
After
> I
> > get the A/P working  I will check on this again and see who well the
> system
> > keeps it's course and report back.  On very steep bank turns tha plane
> > responds quite well.  I have tighten my system so there is no play
between
> > the joy stick and the keel torque tube this made a bif difference.
> >
> >   Fred
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >   ----- Original Message ----- 
> >   From: "Jim Sower" <canarder at frontiernet.net>
> >   To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
> >   Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 12:21 PM
> >   Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Aileron Rolls
> >
> >
> >   > That's why it's NOT  regarded as an acrobatic airplane.  High aspect
> >   > ratio wings like ours with less-than-stunning aileron
area/deflection
> >   > result in very poor roll rates.  The result is that when you attempt
a
> >   > maneuver that requires lots of roll (like an aileron roll) you will
> >   > scoop out so hell wouldn't have it.  You can compensate by starting
> the
> >   > maneuver with a rising velocity vector.  I pull my nose up sharply
> >   > before starting the roll.  I don't have to gain any altitude, just
> >   > establish a significant upward component of my velocity vector.  Try
> >   > that a couple of times (starting with higher airspeeds, higher nose
> >   > attitude, and reducing nose up as results permit).  You also might
try
> >   > keeping some G on the airplane and kicking in a lot of rudder.
Swept
> >   > wings tend to enhance roll-yaw coupling if you have enough rudder
> >   > authority (Velocitys typically don't have much so check if you have
at
> >   > least 3.5" - 4" rudder available for the maneuver).  Airspeed is
your
> >   > friend.  It makes you roll faster  The quicker you get it done, the
> less
> >   > you scoop out.
> >   >
> >   > I've done a couple.  Performance was substandard so I don't do it
any
> >   > more ... Jim S.
> >   >
> >   >
> >   >
> >   > Lynn Gallup wrote:
> >   >
> >   > >Fred,
> >   > >I have practiced aileron rolls about twenty times and they are
always
> >   > >terrible. I have talked to Scott Swing by phone to learn his
> technique
> > and
> >   > >to one other Velocity owner, Kirk Lindberg. But try as I might I
> always
> > wind
> >   > >up in a dive to one side or the other depending upon the direction
of
> > the
> >   > >roll. I have never accomplished a roll with less than 800 ft. loss
of
> >   > >altitude except once I did it with 500 ft. loss but have never been
> > able to
> >   > >duplicate it. When you were learning to do them was there a
> particular
> > thing
> >   > >which stands out as as the "secret"? (Mine is a long-wing,  maybe
> that
> > makes
> >   > >a difference.)
> >   > >Thanks,
> >   > >Lynn
> >   > >
> >   > >----- Original Message ----- 
> >   > >From: "Fred Marconi" <fmarconi at bellsouth.net>
> >   > >To: <Jim_Agnew_2 at yahoo.com>; "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders
> > list"
> >   > ><reflector at tvbf.org>
> >   > >Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 9:30 PM
> >   > >Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Aileron self-centering
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >>  What am I missing.  We have done aileron rolls with N244FM the
> plane
> >   > >>respons beautifully and I have just a standard set up except my
> tubes
> > are
> >   > >>steel rather than the aluminum.
> >   > >>
> >   > >>  Fred
> >   > >>
> >   > >>  ----- Original Message ----- 
> >   > >>  From: "Jim Agnew" <jim_agnew_2 at yahoo.com>
> >   > >>  To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list"
> > <reflector at tvbf.org>
> >   > >>  Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 9:59 PM
> >   > >>  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Aileron self-centering
> >   > >>
> >   > >>
> >   > >>  > Ronnie,
> >   > >>  >
> >   > >>  > The answer is simple, the AL tube in a direct twisting
> >   > >>  > application will deliver all of the torque and motion to
> >   > >>  > the aileron.  When it is swung through an arc the AL tub
> >   > >>  > will suddenly bow when the aileron load becomes to high and
> >   > >>  > the torque is transformed into a bowing of the tube rather
> >   > >>  > than moving the aileron.
> >   > >>  >
> >   > >>  > Jim
> >   > >>  > --- Ronnie Brown <romott at adelphia.net> wrote:
> >   > >>  >
> >   > >>  > > I'm not sure you have a problem.
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > > The 172 that I flew for 10 years didn't do a very good
> >   > >>  > > job of returning to
> >   > >>  > > wings level if you turned the yoke loose while in a turn.
> >   > >>  > >  In fact, if you
> >   > >>  > > were more than about 20-30 degrees banked, it would turn
> >   > >>  > > even steeper.
> >   > >>  > > Called spiral stability - I'm not sure I understand why
> >   > >>  > > that is desirable in
> >   > >>  > > a certified airplane.
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > > The tendency for an airplane to return to wings level is
> >   > >>  > > dihedral effect.
> >   > >>  > > The Velocity is supposed to be fairly good at trying to
> >   > >>  > > do this, although I
> >   > >>  > > haven't really tested this on my 173 Elite RG.  You
> >   > >>  > > wouldn't think the Velo
> >   > >>  > > would be as good as a C172, since the 172 is hanging
> >   > >>  > > under its wings - the
> >   > >>  > > Velo has mid wings, and they go straight out.  I guess
> >   > >>  > > the swept wings
> >   > >>  > > causes the dihedral effect.  I love the way mine flies,
> >   > >>  > > very stable for
> >   > >>  > > cross country and IFR.  And it handles well at low speed,
> >   > >>  > > on final.  Just
> >   > >>  > > lands fast like a canard.  Otherwise, GREAT airplane!
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > > Having the ailerons set at 1/2" down while centered
> >   > >>  > > sounds scary.  That
> >   > >>  > > would cause a pretty good pitch "down" effect.  Are you
> >   > >>  > > saying that your
> >   > >>  > > ailerons go to faired straight neutral while in the air?
> >   > >>  > > Sounds like
> >   > >>  > > something is giving too much slop in your aileron control
> >   > >>  > > linkages?
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > > My ailerons have one piece torque tubes - no connector
> >   > >>  > > near the aileron end.
> >   > >>  > > I don't see the slop or give that some folks say they see
> >   > >>  > > with the "off
> >   > >>  > > center" aluminum torque tube arrangement.  I can't see
> >   > >>  > > that it matters where
> >   > >>  > > the torque tube is mounted in relationship to the hinge
> >   > >>  > > line.  As long as
> >   > >>  > > the torque tube is attached in such a way that it points
> >   > >>  > > to the aileron bell
> >   > >>  > > crank at the root of the wing, I don't understand the
> >   > >>  > > "wrap-up" that you
> >   > >>  > > mention.
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > > Ronnie
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > > ----- Original Message -----
> >   > >>  > > From: "Lynn Gallup" <LGallup at mn.rr.com>
> >   > >>  > > To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list"
> >   > >>  > > <reflector at tvbf.org>
> >   > >>  > > Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 6:17 PM
> >   > >>  > > Subject: REFLECTOR: Aileron self-centering
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > > | Velo-people,
> >   > >>  > > | A while back I started a thread called "aileron
> >   > >>  > > stiffness". This really
> >   > >>  > > | related more to the degree of aileron self-centering
> >   > >>  > > following a turn than
> >   > >>  > > | to stiffness per se.  On my airplane I thought the
> >   > >>  > > ailerons displayed
> >   > >>  > > almost
> >   > >>  > > | no self-centering in flight and I attributed this to
> >   > >>  > > stiffness or friction
> >   > >>  > > | in the system.
> >   > >>  > > |
> >   > >>  > > | I noticed that on the ground the aileron control seemed
> >   > >>  > > fairly smooth and
> >   > >>  > > | easy compared to in-flight so I decided to reject the
> >   > >>  > > "stiffness and
> >   > >>  > > | friction" hypothesis and look elsewhere. I postulated
> >   > >>  > > that there might be
> >   > >>  > > | some kind of "slack" or "wrap-up" in the system due,
> >   > >>  > > possibly, to bending
> >   > >>  > > of
> >   > >>  > > | the aileron torque tubes because they are not attached
> >   > >>  > > at the center of
> >   > >>  > > | pivot of the ailerons. As an experiment, I adjusted the
> >   > >>  > > ailerons so they
> >   > >>  > > had
> >   > >>  > > | a half-inch of droop when centered. I felt this would
> >   > >>  > > torque-load the
> >   > >>  > > system
> >   > >>  > > | in flight and I should feel at least something
> >   > >>  > > different. I have now flown
> >   > >>  > > | the airplane about ten hours this way and pretty much
> >   > >>  > > put it through it's
> >   > >>  > > | paces. My feeling is that the change definitely helped
> >   > >>  > > but not enough.
> >   > >>  > > |
> >   > >>  > > | I believe the aileron droop idea is really a
> >   > >>  > > second-order fix, good enough
> >   > >>  > > | for an experiment but not the primary factor so I
> >   > >>  > > really don't want to
> >   > >>  > > | increase the droop;  I might break something - Like my
> >   > >>  > > head. So I am now
> >   > >>  > > | thinking about two things (1) replacing the aluminum
> >   > >>  > > aileron torque tubes
> >   > >>  > > | with steel and/or (2) installing universal joints where
> >   > >>  > > the tubes attach
> >   > >>  > > to
> >   > >>  > > | the ailerons.
> >   > >>  > > |
> >   > >>  > > | Have any of you had any experience with either of these
> >   > >>  > > ideas?
> >   > >>  > > |
> >   > >>  > > | Regards,
> >   > >>  > > | Lynn
> >   > >>  > > |
> >   > >>  > > | _______________________________________________
> >   > >>  > > | To change your email address, visit
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> >   > >>  > > |
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> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  > > _______________________________________________
> >   > >>  > > To change your email address, visit
> >   > >>  > > http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
> >   > >>  > >
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> >   > >>  > >
> >   > >>  >
> >   > >>  >
> >   > >>  > =====
> >   > >>  > James F. Agnew
> >   > >>  > Jim_Agnew_2 at Yahoo.Com
> >   > >>  > Tampa, FL
> >   > >>  > Velocity 173 Elite Aircraft Completed & Flying
> >   > >>  > _______________________________________________
> >   > >>  > To change your email address, visit
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> >   > >>  >
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> >   > >>
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> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >>  >
> >   > >>
> >   > >>
> >   > >>_______________________________________________
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> >   > >>
> >   > >>
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> >   > >>
> >   > >>
> >   > >
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> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   >
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> >
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