Empennage or 'tail feathers'

I have put the elevators on and off more times than I care to remember in the last few days. Sometimes I get the bolts in quite easily, other times it takes 10 minutes per bolt. The good news for me is that it is finally all coming together. I have shaved the HS skin until I finally have just more than the minimums, for elevator deflection. The lead is installed.

Because I have the heavier gauge elevator skins, there is quite a bit more lead back there than I expected. You pay the weight penalty twice. The first time the weight of the heavier skin, the second time the lead to balance it. This left tip is stuffed with lead to balance the extra weight of the trim tab and motor. After it is painted I will be able to drill some lead out of the inner face since it is currently nose heavy.



At the risk of embarasssing myself I will post another picture, but it leaves no doubt as to my untidyness!

It is not a big issue, but once again the quality of the fiberglass mouldings is a little disapointing; air pockets in the glass covered in gelcoat, and on one of them, the upper and lower half of the fairing are poorly aligned.

Labels: HS Elevators weight

Setting up the empenage has proved quite challenging. The issues have been to ensure clearance between the leading edge of the fin and the top of the fuselage.

Preserving the necessary edge distances on all the bolts has also been demanding, but we are getting there. The next job is to make the dreaded bend in the top of the HS-410. I think this will need a shim as discussed in the build book.

Despite these difficulties it all appears to be square to within o.1 degree so I guess I should be happy!

Labels: HS, VS