REFLECTOR: Leveling the plane

[Jim Sower]

Larry,
You're quite right of course.  My wing template doesn't fit exactly, and 
when I said the level is cheap and chinzy, I meant not able to detect 
small errors (large error to move bubble just a little) and glued onto 
to template in what looks to be a pretty half-assed fashion.  I'll check 
again backing it up with a more accurate level to try and quantify just 
how "inaccurate" it is.  And I may just revisit my notion that's it's 
really important to know the exact fuselage incidence if you can 
determine the wing and canard incidence with acceptable accuracy.
Thanks ... Jim S.

Laurence Coen wrote:

> Jim,
>
> The bubble level on your wing incidence tool is every bit as accurate 
> at measuring "level" as a $100 digital level.  It's accuracy is a 
> function of gravity not money.  Any inaccuracy you encounter using 
> this device is if it has become warped over time or in it's placement 
> on the wing.  The only advantage of a digital level is the ability to 
> measure the angle of things that are not level and not it's accuracy. 
> When you use the firewall as a reference I would recommend you use a 
> large nut and a piece of string for the most precise vertical 
> reference money can buy.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Larry Coen
> N136LC
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Sower" <canarder at frontiernet.net>
> To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 11:23 PM
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Leveling the plane
>
>
>> My plane started out as a top loader and had the doors retro-fitted, 
>> so that won't be a reliable indication. Belly is not flat enough to 
>> use, so I'm at my wit's end ... Jim S.
>>
>> MikeWatsonSpg at cs.com wrote:
>>
>>> Jim,
>>>
>>> Maybe this won't apply to yours, but both my velocity SERG and a 
>>> SEFG that
>>> I assisted in building, was precisely level at the center of the 
>>> bottom door ledge.
>>>
>>> If a number of builders would level their plane normally, then check 
>>> the bottom
>>> of the door to see if it is level, that may confirm my findings.
>>>
>>> Mike W.
>>>
>>>
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