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View Full Version : Vert stab/flaperon protection when trailering



ken nougaret
01-03-2016, 03:05 PM
My wife made a nice hat for the stab with foam at the bottom for the flaperons to rest against when the wings are folded. She found the poly-propelene in blue and yellow to match the planes colors.

jmodguy
01-03-2016, 04:45 PM
That is very cool! Would a horizontal piece between the flap and stab be useful?

t j
01-03-2016, 05:13 PM
I like it! Do you have any good ideas on how to keep the elevator from flopping up and down?

ken nougaret
01-03-2016, 05:55 PM
I like it! Do you have any good ideas on how to keep the elevator from flopping up and down?

Funny you mention that. I was thinking the same thing while admiring my wifes work. I think the the best thing would be a gust lock in the cockpit.

t j
01-04-2016, 06:42 AM
I lay a thick piece of foam on top of the elevator and run a length of parachute cord looped around an elevator hinge over the top of it and secure the cord to a bungee on the trailer tongue. It works fine but looks kind of hen house.

gregsgt
01-04-2016, 11:16 AM
Get a piece of wooden dowel and wrap it with that pipe insulation stuff. Put one piece on top and one on the bottom. Connect them with a nut and bolt on each end. Cheap easy elevator gust lock.

jiott
01-04-2016, 12:09 PM
I would do it the same way I do it when parked on the ramp on a windy day: Pull the stick all the way back and put the seat belt around the handle and snug it up. Keeps both the elevator and ailerons from flapping in the breeze. I realize this puts the elevator at its max up angle, which may not be the best for trailering.

rgeer1
01-04-2016, 02:25 PM
I had a plane delivered out of NC on a 42 ft drop deck flat. Plane was not a KitFox I'm sorry to say,it was a Hipps Reliant. But the idea the young man had gives the same results. He went to Lowes and bought 10ft pieces of plastic pipe cut it the desired lengths and covered it with black pipe insulation the same length . 1 piece each side of the rudder and elevator and tied with string. U can do the same with the folded wing aerilons and employed the seat belt and stick trick also. It will all work together To stop unwanted move movement.

t j
01-04-2016, 06:04 PM
The elevator will hit the flaperons when the stick is about half way back.

I tried the conventional gust lock on the elevator but I found it took too much time to install and remove for my liking.

here's a photo of my hen house method.

Olle1975
01-06-2016, 06:26 AM
I have a fin-cover consisting of two boards protected by carpet.
The Elevator will be lock by fixing the stick with the belt in cockpit or
I use two small boards which I could mount like the fin-cover before.

Olaf

KFfan
01-06-2016, 02:54 PM
I use a system like Olaf's for the rudder/vert stab as well as the elevator/horz stab