I am a propjet guy . I have the usual F-20s, UltraSports and some others. I am currently building a Mig Flanker (twin Vertical fins). The plane is darn close to be glassed. I was looking at it the other day thinking, I don't use rudder for anything other than taking of with a taildragger.
I don't knife edge or any of that. Is their any reason why I should not make the fins solid on both sides? With all the linkage and associated stuff, its would be one less thing to go wrong.

many of my earlier projects, such as the dc's f-20 a-4 ducted fan and the f-15 ducted fan, none of them had working rudders, they were just solid fins, but with the turbines i have rudders on mine

mark

Yo Snoop If it's a turbine powered model then you are required by AMA to have functional rudders if it's simply a ducted fan project of course it is not required. I very rarely use rudder as well. But some guys live and die by it.


P. Richards aka Swat Team

Snoop-Doggy,

If you want to fly at a AMA Jet event or want to have AMA coverage you will have to have operating rudders or rudder. Or just fly at your own field and have fun with out an operational rudder!

Ken....

Is it a propjet? If so, no rudder necessary!

Hey Snoop.............. If ya don't put functional rudders on her, how are ya ever gonna learn to use one?

Once you have mastered the rudder you will wonder how you got along without one!!!!!!!!![8D]

Much more fun, with one!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a TG Mig for ducted fan and just made one rudder operational for directional control. The other was fixed but the plane flew great. Never noticed any difference in yaw to port or starbord. The rule says "an operational rudder". Nothing about more than one

Mike

Do the regs even mention the size of the required rudder? A "functional rudder" by my definition could be very tiny (if I didn't really like one).

Saying that I really do like having a useable rudder.

Regards,
Bart

Thanks loads-(Grinch!) So much for that idea. I must have missed that rule.


Terry, I can fly with rudder but just don't use it much with the planes I fly. Once I take off, the throttle does not come back down until I'm done.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it

You don't need a rudder if its not a turbine.

I have functional rudders on my DF's. My primary reason is incase the nosewheel steering fails on takeoff. At low speeds most rudders on DF's are fairly useless. However if the nosewheel servo or linkage should fail after you have a good amount of takeoff speed, the rudder(s) may be effective enough to help you out of a jam. Bob