What would be the best method of adding ailerons to a Sig Senior Kadet?


Eric

If the wing has not been built yet....you have a choice of either strip ailerons or barndoor type.....

First of all...the ailerons will not be very effective if you don't reduce the dihedral angle.... I would suggest about 1 inch per side....

If the wing is built and it has the stock dihedral....buy a wing kit from Sig...approx $30 last time I checked...or you can cut it in half and put a new dihedral brace in it and glue it together again...not an easy task...

for strip ailerons...you can either carefully cut about a 1/4 inch off the front of the trailing edge stock or cut the rib ends off and use a piece of 1/4 inch stock glued to the back of the ribs.....you an tape two halves of a hacksaw blade together to make a slotting tool..... Then cut the trailing edge stock to length and install strip ailerons.....

Another method is to go with Barn Door type ailerons.....
I leave the tip rib....then cut the next 3 ribs at the rear spar.....
cut the trailing edge at the inside of the tip rib and the inside of the 4th rib....trim off approx. 3/16 inch from each end of the trailing edge.....

Using 1/8th inch stock.....sheet the back of the rear spars....

Cut the front of the ribs at about 30 degrees....allow for the thickness of the sheeting..... Sheet the front of the ribs....

Cut 2 pieces to match the contour of the ribs and glue to the ends of the aileron.....

I usually use Monokote to hinge these on....and use a servo for each aileron..... for hinging.....cut about a 3 inch wide strip of Monokote....or whatever covering.....for the top and bottom....
Put the aileron flush to the sheeting on the rear spar....iron the top strip on.... Flip the aileron up and lay it on the wing....iron the other strip on.....never had one come loose......

Thank you CaptKaos for your help!

Eric

Go with the strip airlarons with one inch under each wing tip. Use a servo on each side with a Y connector. That is how mine is set up, wore out a Saito 45 completely ( was used ) and now have an OS 61 on the plane. This is a really good set up for beginners and makes the plane a joy to fly....It's the best for what it is...a solid trainer that you really don't get tired of.

I will agree that the strip ailerons are the easiest of the two methods.....the barn door ailerons are a bit complicated but they also work great.....

Thought these pics might help. I did the strip type from trailing edge stock I got from the LHS. They are easy to do and if you make them this length you will get a Senior that turns crisp and is very responsive. I put in only 2 inches total of dihedral (6 inches specified in the manual) and people are amazed at how well this plane flys. With flapperons I can stop the Senior dead in the sky above the field and hold it there forever with a slight breeze.

Good luck with yours

This image show the servo pocket. Keeps everything tidy!

Has anyone built the Kadet Senior wing flat (i.e. no hidhedral)?

I built mine with strip ailerons, dropped the dihedral to 1". For extra fun I put flaps on as well, with the flaps deployed, the plane will almost hover in a slight headwind. Makes for really fun landings! I had to modify the wing to bolt it on so I would not have to keep adjusting the radio trim. I beefed up the front of the cabin with triangle stock and 1/8 inch birch ply, rigged dowel to plug in at front, bolted the rear of the wing down. It has held up really well.

I built a wing with barndoor ailerons and about 1 1/4 inch total dihedral. I like the way it flys, but if I were to do it again I wouls go with strip ailerons. They look much easier than the barndoor type.

I built and flew a senior Kadet taildragger with an Astro Flite geared 40 on 21 cells. I installed strip ailerons and used no deihedral. It was an awsome flyer, and would do the most beautiful, big, slow roles. It went in on my first attempt at a four point roll, due to be zero mistakes from the ground.