BobS

My Feedback: (3)

I recently purchased a beautiful Top Flite Stinson Reliant. The plane is gorgeous, but it has one problem. The ailerons are warped. One is up and the other is down. Now I have a question for anyone willing to advise.
I want to fly it, but I am not sure of where to line up the ailerons. At the tips or at the inboard end of them. I tried heating and twisting them, but they are too thick to warp back.
Could someone tell me where to place them? Anyone have any experience with this problem? Maybe I shouldn't fly the plane until I build or straighten them. Any suggestions?

Ed

Yes ! Go to the correct Forum and ask your question.

Charlie P.

You didn't say how warped.  1/8" doesn't matter much.  3/8" matters a great deal.

I'd say straighten them, but otherwise line up the outboard tips (unless the tips are crooked - also a possibility).  The further out the wing the more lever arm a warped surface has to work with.

Most times things don't get better in the air so it's better to fix them before taking off.

vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

Gas engines do not care about warped ailerons. It will fly just fine. Now if it were electric or glow, I would be concerned. I think your good to go.

earlwb

You can usually take a monokote heat gun or a monokote iron and heat them up and twist them until they cool down and most of the warp or all of it will come out.

kenh3497

You are correct.... Gas engins don't care, but, neither do glow engines or electric motors. None of the three know diddily squat about aerodymamics. What does care is the airframe.

Charlie and Earl have good advice!

Ken

JeffH

My Feedback: (43)

Actually the airframe doesn't care either, but the pilot sure does!

BobS

My Feedback: (3)

Thanks for all the suggestions about my ailerons. I went back to the old heat and bend method. It seems to be woking. I left them clamped over night to cool. Seems to be working. I can't believe a plane built this good could have such twisted ailerons.

Thanks again, Bob S

av8tor1977

My Feedback: (6)

If not, take the covering off and steam them. Clamp overnight to dry, then recover.

AV8TOR