Hi:
I'm building a biplane....early 80's kit called a Bel-Air 60.
The plane has bottom only full length ailerons.
Would tip ailerons on each wing be beneficial or no?


Tom

It depends on the type of flying you intend to do. IF you don't want your rolls to be too quick, the single ailerons will do fine, but if you want nice crisp areobatic performance, you'll need ailerons on both wings so the bottom wing doesn't have to do the extra work of lugging the top wing through a roll

I've followed the history of a certain Bel Air biplane, built in the 90's, black with silver darts and excellent Monokote work. This plane was built per plans by a local here, won a Monokote contest, flew a little and was sold to another club member. With a Magnum .61 this thing was a rocket and had a very high roll rate.

This club member sold it to yet another, who enjoyed it for a while, and sold it to one of my students. The student tried it, with me on the instructor box, and found it a bit too sensitive for him. He has put it aside, and will spend some more time with more docile planes.

I enjoyed the trim flight and letting the student have control for a bit. Even with mild rates, it was pretty sensitive in roll. Very responsive all around, and quite fast with the .61 twostroke.

Having flown this one, I wouldn't need to change the ailerons for ordinary flight.

Good luck,
Dave Olson