Chris,
I had a similar problem with my "early" XS wings in which the spacing of the
ribs, which determine the spacing of the W-18 plates, was apparently done by
eye rather than a jig.
I found that the key alignment was the outboard FL-3 hinge as this is
located between the W-21 plates and has no options for adjustment. The other
two hinges have a degree of flexibility because you can assemble the W-19
and W-20 plates on either side of their respective W-18's and the FL-1 and
FL-2 either side of W-19 and W-20 respectively -- this gives a lot of
options and will correct substantial lateral misalignment between the W-18's
bonded to the wings and the FL-2/3's bonded to the flaps.
If this is inadequate, putting a slight joggle or "z" bend (like this:
_____/----) in the W-19 and/or W-20 plates is OK -- if the bend has to be
very pronounced, Europa will supply (free) slightly longer versions of these
parts so that hinge alignment can be maintained.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Nick
XS Monowheel 418
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Final Flap Fitting
I have a flap-fit question for the group:
In doing our final fit-up of the flaps this morning, I noticed some
inconsistencies. I have about 8mm of flap out past the root of the wing
at the leading edge of the flap. That sounds reasonable. However, the
outboard hinge of the flap (by the aileron) is at least 8 to 9mm off
center between the two W18's (towards the root of the wing).
After taking a long look at it, I concluded that if I cut about 7mm to
8mm off the flap flange by the aileron, allowing the flap to slide out
on the wing more, that will bring the hinge pretty close to the center
between the W18's, and also allowing the rest of the hinges to line up a
bit better.
My concern is not having enough of the flap sticking out past the root
end of the wing. Now, I gather that may be an unfounded concern as I'll
end up laying in glass over that saved piece of flap to fair it to the
fuse later on anyway. But, if the drive plate for the flap is too far
away from the control linkage in the fuse, that could be a problem.
I did find a very similar problem from Dan Gelderman in my archives, but
do not have any answers archived to the original message. Here it is:
> I can't seem to get an e-mail through to Europa in the US or UK. Does
> my
> question on flaps sound familiar to anyone?
>
> Bob Berube,
> I originally tried to send this to Andy since I had his address handy
> but I
> couldn't get the email to go through over the past week. My flap FL
> plates
> are not
> lining up with the W-18s as shown in the manual. How much can I shave
> off
> the flap tips and still have the flap root close enough to the wing
> root to
> work out O.K.? (I know the manual gives a range but I need to take
> more off
> than that allows.) Details of my situation are below.
> Thanks,
> Dan Geldermann
> A139
>
> Dear Andy,
> I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why my flap FL-1, 2 and 3s
> do
> not line up as close to the W-18s as the manual implies they would. I
> built
> my flaps before receiving my wing kit but I rechecked the flap
> directions to
> confirm I set the flap cores and FL pieces as directed. My FL-3 is
> only 9mm
> away from the inboard W-21. To be centered it needs to be about 19mm
> from
> each W-21. FL-2 is inboard of the edge W-20 by 7mm, and my FL-1 is
> 12mm
> inboard of the edge of W-19 (I realize the W-19 is to be bent but hope
> I'm
> within tolerance). This is with the W-20 and W-19 plates clamped away
> from
> the wing root side on the W-18s. I have already sanded the outer edge
> of
> starboard flap 5mm to move the FL plates outboard leaving 20mm from
> the FL-3
> to the
> edge of the flap tip. The inboard leading edge is now 7mm inboard of
> the
> wing edge, but the flap trailing edge now seems slightly inboard of
> the wing
> root line. Even if I sand the outer flap tip another 4mm I'm afraid
> it
> won't bring out the FL plates enough and my trailing edge at the root
> will
> then be shorter than the wing root.
>
> My port wing appears to be the same way based on a trial fit.
> Help?!
>
> Dan
>
We have pretty much the same issue. Our tail kit was purchased in late
1999, and our wing kit was delivered mid 2000.
Help!!!???!
Chris
A159
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