Tail Shake

[XP503]

Hey guys just wondering if any other of you Drifter-Drivers get a tail shake in your aircraft when your out and about....

 

I fly SB582 models and I have always noticed a very subtle tail shake which I can also feel through the control stick...

 

I can turn around and see the tail feathers shake every now and then.

 

I have noticed that the trim tab is able to move a little bit and may be causing very slight flutter....

 

Anyone else out there noticed this?

 

 

[Guest Qwerty]

My SP6 tailwheel Jab had a vibration/shake that I couldn't identify. Obad and I think that we found it during recent work on the a/c. We spun the tailwheel up using compressed air.... same shake. I have added a friction device to stop the wheel turning in-flight. I haven't had a chance yet to check if we've fixed it. You might have the same thing.

 

 

[XP503]

Ah yea, I didn't think of the tailwheel.

 

When you think about how much the main wheels shake after take off it seems quite possible....

 

Need to invent a mini-brake for the tailwheel haha

 

 

[Guest Qwerty]

I cut a piece of oil line and clamped it to the fork so that it just rubbed on the tyre, it worked well during ground trials.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Davidmason 1, Yes used to get the same thing in my 582 CB, seemed to be more severe whilst climbing. I had no trim tab fitted, so you can count that one out. It seemed to dissappear if you held a bit of foward stick. I did fly the plane once without the rear seat in, and it wasn't there !!.....more likley the result of a bit of a bit of disturbed air rolling across the tail. I agree it can be a bit disturbing at times.......................................

 

 

[S.Drifter]

Maybe it's turbulance, have you done any modifications? I put a higher screen on mine and had the same "flutter", cut it down - no more flutter

 

 

[Vorticity]

Yep, my 503WB did that but only at a very defined Attitude on climb out. It scared me so I rang wayne fisher, he said most drifters will have one position at which turbulant air flows across the tailplane. I would simply avoid this by adjusting my climb out.

 

Both my drifter and fisher would get the odd strange vibration, mainly noticable after a long time on the ground when I was a bit nervous, never really pinned down if it was me or the drifter. Maybe the drifter was scared because it was over 1500ft??

 

They each have personality you realise?

 

 

[Guest skyspud]

All the Drifters at work get flutter at certain AOA at low speed and lower power. This goes away if I apply more power and thus more speed at same AOA.

 

The wings are coping fine providing lift, but the tail plane is near stalling.

 

skyspud

 

Go fast and take chances

 

 

[XP503]

Cool, thanks for your responses guys. G'day Skyspud, what's the latest happenings out at kuppun? Much happening at the drifter factory, is it a worthwhile trip for a look around the factory I was thinking of heading out that way...

 

 

[Guest keeffe]

I had the same in my maxair replaced the tail wires and that sorted it out. When i got rid of the brolga it smoothed out more again. but with the tail wires i had pitch control issues where the aircraft was hard to trim out on top of a gut renching vibration. smmooth now.

 

 

[farri]

Hey guys just wondering if any other of you Drifter-Drivers get a tail shake in your aircraft when your out and about....

Yeah, been flying a Maxair Drifter for 22 years,have had 582`s with 4 blade brolga and 503`s with 3 blade Ivo, has never made much of a difference,on mine tail shake occurs mostly at low airspeed and high AOA,( Please don`t ask what I do at low airspeed and high AOA.):devil:

 

Make sure your wires and all hardware are in good condition and it won`t fall off, I hope.:clown:

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

 

 

[Quick]

I havent got any tail shake that I can remember. I have a WB503. I'll have a closer feel when im next up flying her. I think mine is pretty much perfect. I love it.