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ACRO E-mail Archive Thread: Pitts S1S Roll Rate

Thread: Pitts S1S Roll Rate

Message: Re: Pitts S1S Roll Rate

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From: RIHNAIRCO at aol.com

Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 22:47:27 UTC

Message:

  I fly the first production line Pitts S 1-T (N 49305).  The factory made an
extremely zealous attempt at reducing the aileron gap to an absolutely
irreducible minimum.  The plane has symmetrical airfoil ailerons.  The gap is
so tight that paint and fabric wear by sliding contact.  In spite of this I
have fitted 6mil plastic sheet gap seals using 3 M tape in an S shaped curve
that doesn't restrict very much and does complete the seal.  

Guess what.  It increased the initial and final roll rate and better yet
reduced my stalling speed.  

If you doubt the effectiveness of aileron gap seals note that failure of one
portion leading to an assymetrical condition makes for a "heavy wing" on the
side of the lost seal.

Sealing all control surfaces increases control power in the slower speed
ranges when you need all the control you can get.  

Dick Rihn