Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Spoilers versus ailerons

The main reason I will set the plane up this way is to test it so that I can prepare new owners for what to expect.  I also plan to kit retrofit aileron kits for the planes once I am satisfied with the design and rigging.  There are still a lot of old Starflights out there between the TX and XC models.  Some have spoilerons and some have ailerons.  I want to train both and use one plane.

 

The plane will have its dihedral cut in half.  The later versions had 1/2 the dihedral of the first planes.  This plane will be set up just for a comparison test of the two systems and for training of pilots for either.  Normal flying will be by just one system after testing with the other disconnected.  Starflight spoilerons were set up differently than the MX.  They ran to the wing tip and were not set up to deploy at the same time.  The DBL used a thicker airfoil and power off would only reach 75mph pointed straight down.  Not much need for spoilerons to slow this beast down.  Roger P

---

From: barnabywalker <barnabywalker@yahoo.com>
To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, December 20, 2010 8:21:08 PM
Subject: Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Spoilers versus ailerons

 

If he wants to add spoilers, hook them both together to a brake lever for instant Down.

They are a very poor roll device however, as they can only drop a wing, not raise the opposite one.

The original quicksilver had too much dihedral, designed By Bob Lovejoy as a fixed-wing hang glider with excessive dihedral providing excess stability to allow jumping off a cliff with nearly zero airspeed, and a much better flying machine is made when the dihedral is cut in half as the later MXL and Sport. They still roll with Rudder so you can fly all day with your feet. The ailerons are more for x-wind control.

Barnaby

--- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Pitcher" <lightflyer@...> wrote:
>
> Interesting... TWO sets of flight controls on one airplane.
>
> 10 or 15 years ago I had a Quicksilver MX. These also came from the factory with spoilers instead of ailerons for roll control. Thes planes were rudder-dominant and relied on a large degree of dihedral to control roll and minimize adverse yaw.
> The spoilers were hooked to the "rudder pedals" and the rudder was hooked to the control stick. One could push one pedal or the other to roll the plane, or push them both at the same time to deploy BOTH spoilers and loose altitude FAST. The first time I did a preflight I thought they were installed backwards!!! But that's the way they were designed.
> A lot of owners would later add ailerons and a steerable nosewheel. The ailerons were attached to the control stick, the rudders were attached to the foot pedals, the elevator remained on the control stick, and the spoilers (if retained) were attached to a rope over the pilots head. The pilot would fly the plane with normal control inputs, and just pull the overhead rope to deploy the spoilers for FAST descent.
>
> Rick
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Roger Poyner
> To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com ; Starflight-ul@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 11:48 PM
> Subject: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Spoilers versus ailerons [1 Attachment]
>
>
> [Attachment(s) from Roger Poyner included below]
>
>
> This post relates to airplanes and I hope it doesn't put me on moderated status for clouding up the site. For years I have been hearing the merits of ailerons over spoilers for roll control on light planes. I think I may try to settle or spur this debate on again. I am going through my Starflight DBL on an extensive check out. One of those that takes a look at every nut and bolt on the plane. The plane was originally built with spoilers for roll control to avoid adverse yaw that can be induced with ailerons. I started to build a set of ailerons to add to the plane because that is what I am used to flying GA planes. I started flying in Weedhoppers in the mid 80s with two axis control and have flown the DBL in a two axis configuration and was impressed with how well it handled.
>
> Since I will replace the wing sails at any rate and add the dual controls for the ailerons my idea is to install both ailerons and spoilers on the plane. The plane is a tandem two place and the front seat will have two control systems installed that are separate from each other in the front seat. While both will share elevator control they will be on there own for roll. Center stick for aileron roll and right side stick for spoiler control. Production models of Starflights still use spoilers so the plane should work fine as a trainer for either system. Intial test flights will be solo of course and the redundant flight controls can be tested one at a time. The spoilers with the side stick and ailerons with the center control stick. Dual control sticks will only be in the front cockpit with a center stick in the rear. For spoiler training the center stick will be removed.
>
> I just want to get a feel for both control systems and understand the merits of each. Any one have any thoughts? Roger P
>
>
>
> Attachment(s) from Roger Poyner
>
> 1 of 1 Photo(s)
>
> starflight3.JPG
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 10.0.1170 / Virus Database: 1435/3326 - Release Date: 12/19/10
>

__._,_.___

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___