Does anyone make Aileron Spades for models?

[rdgood]

To anyone -

With giant scale models it would seem that it would be possible to make aileron spades. If my assumption is correct - it would help to null out the load put on servos???

It was just a thought...

Ronster

[airriley]

You would probably have to make your own. I agree, they should lessen the load, not sure if by enough to make it worth doing, but it would help a plane look that much more scale. At least until the first time you put the wings in bags and they scrunch.

[GremlinX]

I was just thinking this!

[DKjens]

Just install "helper tabs" on your ailerons. A small aileron on the TE of the aileron that's connected so it helps the aileron move in the direction directed.

[BreadBowl]

Quique had some custom made for his original Yak 54's he used at the 2002 TOC. There may be a reason why he's not using them now, but then again, who knows?

[GremlinX]

I'd love to see a pic of QQ's... neat. I don't see how they could work though. Please correct me if I am wrong. On a scale aerobat, the right aileron spade assist the left aileron, and visa versa? Thanks.

[Biff]

Spades are HYPER critical to set up properly. Being as we can't "feel" them in flight, they would be potential trouble in an RC aplication. When setting these up on a full scale ,they are shimmed to get the right feel. Perhaps I'll drop Matt Chapman a PM and have him jump in here. He should be the best guy to answer this one.

[airriley]

Could be wrong, but pretty sure the left spade helps the left aileron etc. If you try to visualize it, by it sticking forward of the aileron hinge line when deflected in the same direction of the aileron it applies torque to the aileron in the same direction that the aileron is being deflected.

[yakwrecker]

On full scale planes the ailerons are attached together via cable and stick. When one goes up it opens the face of the spade and the air grabs it and assists the pilot with moving that aileron only. The other aileron (going down) is like putting your hand out the car window going 90 MPH, the load increases. this wont work on a model because each aileron has its own driving force. Even if they were attached it would be harder for the servos to move because the down ail. offsets the up ail. It works in full scale because they are mechanical but models are electrical all the way to the output shaft and it would be pointless.

[BreadBowl]

I believe that most aerobatic airplanes have pushrod actuated control surfaces. The CAP 10B that I fly from time to time has pushrods on everything, even the rudder, which has a tiller arm that allows for cables to exit and connect to the rudder.

[RC330LXFlya]

I was thinking that if the spade was in front of the hinge line it would work like any other counter balance eg. an elevator or rudder. am i totally wrong???

[airriley]

Counterbalance yes, an aerodynamic counter balance.

[IMACmike]

Spades act like an aerodynamic counter balance. My father's Pitts Special had them and the amount of force required to deflect the control surface was reduced. Some spades had an adjustable linkage to assist in tuning them (as seen on the late Leo Loudenslager's Lazer 200).

[yakwrecker]

	Quote: Originally Posted by ryansmith
	I believe that most aerobatic airplanes have pushrod actuated control surfaces. The CAP 10B that I fly from time to time has pushrods on everything, even the rudder, which has a tiller arm that allows for cables to exit and connect to the rudder.

Ryan,
Im pretty sure that they use cable systems. I saw an Extra 330 at oshkosh with its skins off and it was all cable operated. I think like RC330 said that if they were infront of the hinge line it would act like the aerodynamic CB on the tail surfaces do. But think about it, if you fly a R/C plane that has CB's on the tail and then fly sonething like a 260 that doesnt have them on the elevators, do you notice any diffrence in how the plane acts, probly not, because there is so much power from the servo that it is almost impossible to tell the diffrence. And that also depends on how the planes are set up in comparision to each other.

[SargeNZ]

From just thinking it through you could conclude that spades help with both up and down deflection. I would assume that with the aileron neutral you want the spade with a 0 degree angle to the oncoming airflow? Then if the aileron deflects down, the spade is put in a positive angle to the airflow, making lift, since the spade is foward of the hingepoint, it helps the aileron rotate down.

When the aileron is deflected upwards, the spade is put into a negative angle, this causes a force downwards on the spade, helping to pull the aileron upwards.

Would it not also add to aileron surface area and thus roll authority?

NB: This is just what I have deduced, and could quite easily be wrong.