rigging

J

Jerry Swartz

New member
Have just purchased a 2000 GCBC with 104 hrs total time, and noticed that the left flap is hanging down about 3/4 of an inch. The plane flies straight and level however. The original owner tells me it was that way from the factory where he bought it new. Hard for me to believe that and I'm tempted to have it re-rigged. What is your opinion??
 
You could be in for a lot of tinkering.

Its easy to make it fly straight and level with the flap hanging down.

How fast does it go? how does it stall? how does it handle slow flight?

That's what you need to look at before you start a re-rigging project.
 
If you dont have a guy that knows a lot about the line, you might be in for a 'high-hour' bill.

If you are within reason to the factory, I am sure Glenn can rig it for you quick enough that you can just hang out. Fewer hours of labor = cheaper.

If it does fly good with one drooper, I would be tempted to leave it.
 
I'd be more than just tempted. I'd leave it alone. These are terrific airplanes, but they are rather low tech and hand built. I typically see misalignments between left and right flaps, and even ailerons. Sometimes it's because the old Ceconite/dope has shrunk until the control surface has warped. Sometimes it's a newer ship like yours and it's just the way the airplane came out. Not just ACA planes, but Huskys and Maules and others. Mostly slow tube and fabric birds, but I also have an E33C Bonanza in my maintenance fleet that has a visible misalignment of the two elevator balance weights. The owner went through lots of expense and trouble trying to get it corrected by a shop out here that specializes in reskinning metal planes. He finally had it put back like it was so that it would fly right.

The proof of the pudding is how it flies. People with OCD should probably not own airplanes. :lol:
 
hag said:
The proof of the pudding is how it flies. People with OCD should probably not own airplanes. :lol:
Click to expand...

Amen.
Seriously, thats gospel. Low tech and hand made.

We had a customer once that called the flaws of his plane 'character traits' and thats what made his different. *shrug*
 
thanks to all for your inputs. My Citabria has now been re-rigged after first raising the drooping flap. It flew great before and now it still flies great. The only difference is I no longer have to listen to the so called know it alls, that liked to point to the flap and say "not nice things". Jerry Swartz
 
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