Monday, February 25, 2013

Electric Aileron Trim

Started and finished the electric aileron trim this weekend. It will be controlled by a button on the stick. If there is an imbalance, usually due to fuel burn from one tank, the airplane will try to turn toward the heavy side. To balance that, the trim system compensates by moving the ailerons. Here's the view from the top. The rectangle tab with two holes and wire attached is what moves from side to side to move the ailerons. The wires are just temporarily installed as they need to be .041 stainless safety wire and all I had on hand is .032.


Here's the view looking from inside the tunnel where you can see the bias spring for the aileron trim. It's attached to the bottom of the stick where the aileron pushrods attach. One for each side.


In this picture looking forward, you can see the black trim motor on the bottom left and the boomerang shaped links that attach to a pivot that move the tab left and right. The wires are loose as I still have a few left to run. I've moved the stick through a total range of motion check and everything is clear plus I've operated the motor through the VP-X system and it function checks good.

2 comments:

  1. BTW, you may want to wait a bit before installing the safety wire. The great Tom Berge always suggests disconnecting aileron trim for first flight so as to get a better feel for whether there's a heavy wing or not.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Bob. Good suggestion. Tonight, I plan to remove the wire and safety the spring to the aileron pushrod.

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