Dances_with_cumulus
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2016
- Messages
- 26
- Reaction score
- 4
I am hoping to start a poll on how many skybolts are out there flying with and without mass balanced elevators?
I have heard the mass was added to the plans due to a single alleged flutter event but I find it odd that the logic to add mass was not applied to the rudder as well. The rudder sure looks like an elevator turned 90 degrees and it has far more opportunity to flutter given its stiffness comes from a pilots feet, which may or may not be pressing hard on the rudder pedals. Yet the rudders on skybolts aren’t mass balanced. Go figure.
I read somewhere that none of the Pitts plans call for mass balancing. If true, it’s an interesting question why the skybolt needs it, given one is a scale up of the other.
I have heard the mass was added to the plans due to a single alleged flutter event but I find it odd that the logic to add mass was not applied to the rudder as well. The rudder sure looks like an elevator turned 90 degrees and it has far more opportunity to flutter given its stiffness comes from a pilots feet, which may or may not be pressing hard on the rudder pedals. Yet the rudders on skybolts aren’t mass balanced. Go figure.
I read somewhere that none of the Pitts plans call for mass balancing. If true, it’s an interesting question why the skybolt needs it, given one is a scale up of the other.
