Level flight and elevator trim

[BC0979]

I have finally been successful in getting my first 40 mins of flight 😁. I had issues with overheating but I believe to have solved it. coolant pump.

 

My question for the group is regarding level flight and elevator trim.

At 70 mph, level flight, I am needing to use about 90% of my Down trim. My MAC 29% to 30% right in the middle as required.

Is your Savannah like this? With down trim?

If not, then how much trim are you needing to set?

 

can I compensate with more down thrust at the engine mount?

 

As always,  thank you for your support!

Bryan

 

 

 

[Neil_S]

1 minute ago, BC0979 said:

I have finally been successful in getting my first 40 mins of flight 😁. I had issues with overheating but I believe to have solved it. coolant pump.

 

My question for the group is regarding level flight and elevator trim.

At 70 mph, level flight, I am needing to use about 90% of my Down trim. My MAC 29% to 30% right in the middle as required.

Is your Savannah like this? With down trim?

If not, then how much trim are you needing to set?

 

can I compensate with more down thrust at the engine mount?

 

As always,  thank you for your support!

Bryan

 

 

 

 

Hi BC,

 

My Savannah also needs a few bars of down trim for level flight despite my CG being right in the middle of the MAC range. 

I've been flying it for about 8 years like that.....

 

Cheers,

Neil

 

[BC0979]

2 minutes ago, Neil_S said:

 

Hi BC,

 

My Savannah also needs a few bars of down trim for level flight despite my CG being right in the middle of the MAC range. 

I've been flying it for about 8 years like that.....

 

Cheers,

Neil

 

Thanks for the response.  I am needing more than a few bars but it is good to know that down trim IS necessary 

[Red]

Maybe worth Checking thrustline and rigging of the stabiliser (though maybe not much you can do about the latter)

[perrynz]

Hi Bryan. It sounds about right. When I fly solo, hands off level flight, the trim indicator is two (or nearly three) bars from the bottom. Two up flight it is closer to the bottom bar. Cheers. Perry

[IBob]

I have much the same as perrynz above.
And once I put on more than 1/3 flap (I have Mark Kyle 3 position flaps) I then run out of up trim and have to hold the nose up. I believe that is normal, and I have come to like flying slow approaches like that.

[fallowdeer]

Gidday Bryan

 

I’ve got about 1000hrs in Savannahs, roughly 850 in mine and the rest in six or seven other machines.  Every one of them had insufficient trim range to cover the full speed range from 35 to 90 knots.

 

It’d be very tiring to have to hold forward stick in cruise so in my opinion the tab on the elevator should be adjusted so you’re just on the verge of running out of forward trim at maximum cruise power.  
 

That way you’ll minimise the rearward stick force you’ll have to exert (As mentioned by IBob) when flying at the other end of the speed spectrum, around 35knts short final on a STOL approach.

 

Peter

 

 

[perrynz]

Fallowdeer. Interested to know if your Savannah in Afghanistan has any weapon stations?

[fallowdeer]

Nah Perry just a few bits that have fallen off in flight over the years if that counts..😁

[BC0979]

9 hours ago, perrynz said:

Hi Bryan. It sounds about right. When I fly solo, hands off level flight, the trim indicator is two (or nearly three) bars from the bottom. Two up flight it is closer to the bottom bar. Cheers. Perry

Flying two up in my Savannah is requiring nearly full down at 70 mph similar to your Savannah, thanks

[BC0979]

1 hour ago, fallowdeer said:

Gidday Bryan

 

I’ve got about 1000hrs in Savannahs, roughly 850 in mine and the rest in six or seven other machines.  Every one of them had insufficient trim range to cover the full speed range from 35 to 90 knots.

 

It’d be very tiring to have to hold forward stick in cruise so in my opinion the tab on the elevator should be adjusted so you’re just on the verge of running out of forward trim at maximum cruise power.  
 

That way you’ll minimise the rearward stick force you’ll have to exert (As mentioned by IBob) when flying at the other end of the speed spectrum, around 35knts short final on a STOL approach.

 

Peter

 

 

I will do just that after several more test flights, thanks