Flex-wing tuning

[Ranger]

Whenever you start talking about flex-wings the conversation will almost always have something to do with the tuning of the thing. This one says do this, the next one says do that and the bang gatte say send it to the agents. This is a topic we need to understand and to do this we need to understand the dynamics of a flex-wing, how it keeps a trike airborne and what makes a trike turn in the direction you want it to.
You rig your wing after replacing the sail and it turns to the right or it is slower than it was etc. etc. etc. What does one do? Do you start with the washouts, the battons or a hacksaw? Can we start a discussion on this as the wing IS after all the thing that we are flying. The undercarriage is just an added comfort and a means by which we don't have to run our legs off to get off the ground.( Okay, it's supposed to help us land as well)

(Oh yes, I was only joking about the bang gatte and the agents but if you say take it to the agents then the discussion will come to an end and still we won't have learned a thing about how the damn thing works.)

[Biggles]

My manual (Spirit 15) says that you turn the end plugs on thetips of the wings. Small increments and test fly, never make more than one change then fly... otherwise you don't know what made the difference.

Anything more drastic than that I would go to the agent.

I want to move the hang-point, but holding off for a while.

[Biggles]

Eish

Anything more drastic than that give agent klippies and coke and ask him to test fly

[Gadget]

Ranger. I agree. There is a lot of info out there but it all clashes. I have made a lot of tune-ups to my wing to get it right when i first bought it and i also had a tough time figuring out who was right etc.

In my opinion we should start figuring out the troubleshooting steps first. i.e. check battons, check spreader bar cable tension, adjust wingtips. if we do that then we can take each step and break it down to what effect each component change will have on the wing as a whole. i.e. tighten spreader bar cable and the wing will fly faster but have less lift due to the camber being less etc.

Then the brainy people out there who know better can look at our comments and say where we are going wrong.

I recently tried to get hold of a book by Dr WG Brooks which apparently is a very good book to read to understand these wings. Unfortunately I cannot find it anywhere and the only remark I had from the editor of microlighters, who wrote a paragraph in the magazine about the book was to get of the couch and go look for it. Figures.

So let's break it down

I suggest:

1. Batton configuration
2. Spreader Bar Cables
3. Washout Tubes
4. Hang Point

What do you think?

[Gadget]

Maybe we should put weight in ther as number 5 as it does affect the wing quite drsaticaly in performance. Not that we fly with major differences in weight unless carrying pax. We usually have a full tank and paniards with standard equipment.

[Filipe Rodrigues]

Found this on the net.

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/acad/sed/ ... guygratton

[John Young]

What does one do? Do you start with the washouts, the battons or a hacksaw?

Hi Ranger,

I know you fly an Aquilla.

1. Get a batten profile chart from Solo Wings – nominal cost.
2. Buy set of new bungies – approx R 30.
3. Mark one set of battens red or green as applicable.
4. Profile battens, refit battens and fit new bungies.
5. Set wash-out to neutral – use black stripes drawn by Solo Wings.
6. Test in good condx – have an instructor sit back seat if you are not comfortable.
7. Make final adjustments to wash-out and hang point as necessary.

Enjoy being on “the numbers” – hands off - 5,500rpm - 55mph. By the way, these are the 582 "numbers" - your 503 will be a little different.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

PS: Bungies are deliberately supplied longer than necessary. Use a blow-torch, old kitchen knife and neatly trim bungies just after the one-over-hand-knot (unless you like the bungie ‘tags’ fluttering in the wind).

[Ranger]

John

All been done in the order you describe already. Thanx

[John Young]

All been done in the order you describe already.

Yes - well do it again, only properly this time.

Some further points to assist you -

1. Only open the beer once the trike has been tested - need a keen eye to sight the battens.
2. Ensure Gadget is not at the airfield (very disruptive influence).

Regards
John ZU-CIB

[Wart]

Seek some-one who has done this a few times. There are a lot of people out there with a wealth of knowledge and they can assist you with your problem. They may charge a bit extra if you stand behind them and watch!!!

[Arnulf]

John wrote:

Enjoy being on “the numbers” – hands off - 5,500rpm - 55mph.

Hi John,
for those figures, where is your hang-point, which hole?

Regards,
Arnulf

[John Young]

for those figures, where is your hang-point, which hole?

Hi Arnulf,

Second hole from the front - I have recently moved it forward by one hole - hope that I am correct - will check this weekend.

Mmmm - maybe I should borrow your avatar 'till then.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

[Arnulf]

John wrote:

Mmmm - maybe I should borrow your avatar 'till then.

You know John, ever since a highly respected blue-eyed cavalier of the sky, flying an aircraft of more robust construction than our deck chairs with lawn mower engines, referred to us as primates of a different species than homo sapiens, I consider my avatar as very appropriate.

Regards,
Arnulf

[John Young]

You know John, ever since a highly respected blue-eyed cavalier of the sky, flying an aircraft of more robust construction than our deck chairs with lawn mower engines, referred to us as primates of a different species than homo sapiens, I consider my avatar as very appropriate.

Poor ol’ Savas for having made such a generalisation.

But one thing is for sure, we Microlighters do have good sense of humour and can actually laugh at the statements made by Savas and then turn them into a real leg-pull without directly offending anyone nor any aspect / segment of our sport.

Savas – if ever you get to read this post – please be assured that no malice exists whatsoever and we (yes, the same referred to monkeys) are merely carrying on with the leg-pull.

Regards
John ZU-CIB (also previously referred to as “A Monkey in the sky”)

[Arnulf]

One thing I love about our forum is there is no bitching or whinging

Bitching or whinging......never!

Although sometimes we do sound like a bunch of exited monkeys on the radio