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Trailing edge sraightness: what's the tolerance range?

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cattflight

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
47
Location
Spokane, WA
Hi Folks,
Been many months since I visited HBA as I have been happily working away on my Glastar project. I purchased an in-progress kit from the original builder so I have been doing my best to pick up where he left off on various elements. On the ailerons in particular, he had labeled the spar and rib locations and pre-drilled all the rib rivet holes, including matching up the trailing edge joggles and match-drilling through the factory holes into the lower skin. Everything lines up end-to-end and the trailing edges match, but there is a discernable "wave" down the length of the trailing edge now that it is riveted. Not to the point where you can see it from a few feet away, but when sighting down the line, it's noticeable. (+/- 3/32" over a foot of length in one section). I am not concerned about the construction integrity. It's otherwise square, plumb, untwisted, etc.

So here's my question: what's the tolerance for that kind of wave for the ailerons and how will it manifest itself in flying qualities? (typical cruise is 130-135 KTAS) Part of me wants to just order replacement parts and rebuild the ailerons purely from a pride standpoint. The other part of me thinks, once I am in the air, with the exception of a perfectly still day, I'll be wiggling the ailerons for straight n' level flight anyway! :ponder:

Thoughts? I'll see if I can gather some photos.
 
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