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Gust Locks?

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garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:10 am Post subject: Gust Locks?

I'm about to embark on my first "overnight" cross country, from Tampa to 

Wisconsin Rapids.  I got to thinking about the need for gust locks for my 

rudder, elevators and ailerons.  What have others done that is relatively 

light weight and non bulky?



Garry Stout

RV7A, Tampa Florida

luckymacy(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:26 am Post subject: Gust Locks?

pull your control stick back and wrap your seat belt around it snugly.  takes care of ail & ele.

  

 I have a tail dragger so double chalking my TW takes care of the rudder.  Try parking into the predominent wind.  There's lots of things you can do.  I've seen everything from duct taping the rudder's over center couterbalance to the fixed VS to fancy home made clamps but don't know how to describe to make them.  If run down to an airport with outside parked airplanes like cessnas you can see what i mean about the different types of "clamps".

  

   much   [quote][b]

rv9jim(at)juno.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:14 am Post subject: Gust Locks?

Hi Garry,

        When are you leaving?  I've got a few pix of some devices used on

Rv's.  A pin that has two 90 deg bends on the ends, will lock your rudder

in position.



        __________

        {                  }                  One end is put in a hole in

your rudder stop and one in your rudder bracket.



I have some pix of these devices at home.  If you are interested, give me

a nudge.   I think the seat belt and the rudder locking pin (with the

appropriate red flag attached so you don' forget to remove it.)  will do

a good job for the moment.  Since we have tri-gears,  I think that will

suffice.  I think that having the tail with the elevators in the full up

position is not the best position.   I will probably use the devices that

lock the elevator in the horizontal position so "wind up your tail" won't

cause the airplane to load the nose gear.  



Jim

n616tb(at)btsapps.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject: Gust Locks?

I have been fastening my seat belt around the stick, but be sure you do the

stick in YOUR seat.  That way you shouldn't be inclined to forget to undo

it.  I know, seems ridiculous, but it has happened.



Tim



[quote] --

ronlee(at)pcisys.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject: Gust Locks?

I am not a fan of external gust locks that can be forgotten before flight.  



I have a PVC tube contraption that locks the rudder by wedging against 

the area in front of the seat then use the pilots side seatbelt to secure

the stick.



Ron Lee

garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject: Gust Locks?

Hi Jim,



I'm leaving on July 18th and fortunately my friend who is a CFII is going 

along for the ride.  Makes me feel a whole lot safer.  I'll make up the 

rudder gust lock pins as you've suggested, and I guess the 'ol tie the stick 

with seatbelts will do the rest.  Thanks for everyone's response.



Garry



---

Larry Bowen

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 802
Location: NC, USA

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:09 pm Post subject: Gust Locks?

I use a bungee cord instead of the seat belt.  Less hassle loosening/readjusting the seatbelt when it's time for me to strap in.  Hook one end near the seat belt anchor, one or two loops around the stick, and secure near the other seat belt anchor.  Rudder is secured via the tailwheel, in my case.... 

-- 

Larry Bowen

Larry(at)BowenAero.com (Larry(at)BowenAero.com)

http://BowenAero.com 



On 6/27/07, Garry <garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com (garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com)> wrote:[quote] --> RV-List message posted by: "Garry" <garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com (garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com)>



Hi Jim,



I'm leaving on July 18th and fortunately my friend who is a CFII is going 

along for the ride.  Makes me feel a whole lot safer.  I'll make up the

rudder gust lock pins as you've suggested, and I guess the 'ol tie the stick

with seatbelts will do the rest.  Thanks for everyone's response. 



Garry



---

_________________
Larry Bowen
RV-8 SOLD,
RV-7QB in progress...

Vanremog(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:08 pm Post subject: Gust Locks?

In a message dated 6/27/2007 11:12:04 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  I'm    about to embark on my first "overnight" cross country, from Tampa to    

Wisconsin Rapids.  I got to thinking about the need for gust locks    for my 

rudder, elevators and ailerons.  What have others done that is    relatively 

light weight and non bulky? 	


 

 =========================================

  

 I've never needed an external aileron gust lock but I do have a combination  external elevator and rudder gust lock that weighs about half an ounce.  It  is just a 1ft piece of 1/8" bungee cord, a short piece of stainless steel hinge  pin and a "remove before flight" ribbon.  Just drill a clearance hole (for  the hinge pin) in both your rudder stop horn and another matching one on  the same side control horn.  Bend the hinge pin into a staple shape (I used  the rivet cutter as a holding jig during the bending) that spans both holes  and holds the rudder straight (in trail).  The pin goes up from the  bottom.  The bungee is permanently attached to the pin using a tiny adel  clamp.  Put a large diameter plastic washer on the other end of the  bungee.  The bungee is stretched up and over the trim tab root (at the  hinge point and then the washer tucked into the gap between the trim tab and the  elevator proper.

  

 It's simple, works perfectly and you could never even start to taxi without  noticing that the lock is still in place (if you forgot to remove it).   

 GV (RV-6A N1GV O-360-A1A, C/S, Flying 857hrs, Silicon Valley,  CA)



See what's free at AOL.com. 

  [quote][b]

dmaib@me.com

Joined: 25 Apr 2006
Posts: 455
Location: New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:31 am Post subject: Gust Locks?

Any chance we could see a photo of that rudder/elevator lock? It sounds very interesting to me.

David Maib

RV-10 40559

wings

On Jun 27, 2007, at 11:07 PM, Vanremog(at)aol.com (Vanremog(at)aol.com) wrote:

   In a message dated 6/27/2007 11:12:04 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com (garrys(at)tampabay.rr.com) writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  I'm   about to embark on my first "overnight" cross country, from Tampa to   

Wisconsin Rapids.  I got to thinking about the need for gust locks   for my 

rudder, elevators and ailerons.  What have others done that is   relatively 

light weight and non bulky? 	


 

 =========================================

  

 I've never needed an external aileron gust lock but I do have a combination external elevator and rudder gust lock that weighs about half an ounce.  It is just a 1ft piece of 1/8" bungee cord, a short piece of stainless steel hinge pin and a "remove before flight" ribbon.  Just drill a clearance hole (for the hinge pin) in both your rudder stop horn and another matching one on the same side control horn.  Bend the hinge pin into a staple shape (I used the rivet cutter as a holding jig during the bending) that spans both holes and holds the rudder straight (in trail).  The pin goes up from the bottom.  The bungee is permanently attached to the pin using a tiny adel clamp.  Put a large diameter plastic washer on the other end of the bungee.  The bungee is stretched up and over the trim tab root (at the hinge point and then the washer tucked into the gap between the trim tab and the elevator proper.

  

 It's simple, works perfectly and you could never even start to taxi without noticing that the lock is still in place (if you forgot to remove it).  

 GV (RV-6A N1GV O-360-A1A, C/S, Flying 857hrs, Silicon Valley, CA)



See what's free at AOL.com. 

 [quote]

href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List

href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com



[b]

_________________
David Maib
RV-10 #40559
New Smyrna Beach, FL

Vanremog(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:31 am Post subject: Gust Locks?

In a message dated 6/28/2007 5:33:36 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  dmaib(at)mac.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Any    chance we could see a photo of that rudder/elevator lock? It sounds very    interesting to me. 	


 

 ==========================================

  

 I'll post a shot of it tomorrow.

  

  

  

 GV (RV-6A N1GV O-360-A1A, C/S, Flying 857hrs, Silicon Valley,  CA)





See what's free at AOL.com. 

  [quote][b]

pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth.
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: Gust Locks?

The smallest and lightest I've seen was a couple of 'chip clips' used to 

close up a bag of chips.  Get the ones with the rubber insert.  I was 

surprised at the amount of pulling to get the clip to slide off.

Linn

do not archive

Garry wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I'm about to embark on my first "overnight" cross country, from Tampa 

 to Wisconsin Rapids.  I got to thinking about the need for gust locks 

 for my rudder, elevators and ailerons.  What have others done that is 

 relatively light weight and non bulky?



 Garry Stout

 RV7A, Tampa Florida

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