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Pitch Trim

As with any flaps, there will likely be a pitch trim change as flaperons are lowered. The trim change can vary from negligible to violent, either up or down, depending on the plane. As a general rule, planes with long tails and large stabilizers, and high-aspect ratio wings, will tend to pitch up with flaps down. But aircraft with smaller stabs and shorter tails, and low aspect ratio wings, may very well pitch down.

For examples, lowering flaps on a Seniorita, Telemaster, or most trainers, will tend to cause the plane to pitch up. On a Hots, CAP, or many acrobatic craft, the pitch action may well be downward. And some sport planes ``in between'' may show little reaction. These pitch trim effects are also dependent on your flying speed when lowering flaps/flaperons, and the power setting at the time.

Counteracting pitch trim effects could be done by manually resetting trim each time you lower or raise the flaperons, but this is not always practical. Again, the best solution is mixing - either mechanical, or through your radio. Unfortunately, very few radios other than computer radios offer the required flap-to-elevator mix.

If you cope with the yaw and trim considerations, go for it - flaperons can add a whole new dimension to your flying enjoyment!


next up previous
Next: Until Next Month... Up: Ailerons Can Be Flaps Previous: Dealing With Adverse Yaw

Craig Kulesa
Wed Jun 30 22:29:14 MST 1999