Pitot Tubes & Lighter Ailerons


There seems to be a lot of frustration trying to find a good place for the pitot and static air. There are lots of ways that work, here's mine. The tube on the pilot's side is the pitot, it is open in the front for ram air, the static is on the passenger side, it is sealed in front, with 1/16" holes around the sides about 3/4" back from the front. The pitot tube and static air tubes are made from 1/4" steel automobile brake line, easy to bend, holds a bend, and you can braze a flange to the mounting end. You want them pointing down about 10-15 degrees when the airplane is in level flight so that they are at a useful angle at the stall.

The other picture is my mod to the aileron bellcrank. Stock, the holes are about 7" apart. I drilled new holes that are 4 1/2" apart. It reduces the travel of the ailerons, giving you much more leverage at the control stick. If you are happy with the way the stock ailerons feel, good. If you want the ailerons to feel half as heavy, and the airplane to feel much lighter and agile with no apparent loss of control authority, give it a try. And if you try it and don't like it, put it back like it was. It does reduce total aileron travel, you may not feel comfortable doing that; your decision. I can't tell any loss of control authority, and it makes the airplane a well-balanced sweetheart to fly.


Aileron Hinge

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