Pica Duellist..to FLAP or Not to Flap?
 

About ready to start building my third Duellist. Love that plane! I'm putting Spring Air Retracts (both previous planes were fixed gear). I am considering installing flaps on this one due to the increase in weight. I will use a pair of YS .45 for power, and they are a little heavier than O.S.

Just wondering if any one has had good results "bashing" a flap setup. I'll be using wing mounted aileron servos, so maybe jsut a "flaperon" set up would work as well (almost).

Any input would be appreciated!

RE: Pica Duellist..to FLAP or Not to Flap?
 

Don't really know if they're "needed".
I put flaps on mine between the nacelles and the fuselage. same chord as the ailerons.
They are effective especially when used with a small amount of flaperon outboard.
I had to mix in a couple clicks of down elevator to neutralize a pitch-up tendancy.

If I were to do it again, I would increase the flap span to include a couple inches outboard of the engine nacelles. I would also increase the flap chord.

Mine are driven by a pair of very short torque rods connected to a common servo in the wing center. Ailerons are driven by dedicated wing mounted servos.

Cheers,
-E

RE: Pica Duellist..to FLAP or Not to Flap?
 

I had/have flaps on mine and after flying the plane didn't think they were needed. I have TT Pro 46s and at idle it floats in real nice. I'm doing a little reconstruction on mine and am going to eliminate the flaps. I did like and use the same setup as "mucksmear" for my flaps but didn't have enough deflection to make them effective.

My wing is repairable but the fuse is a comple rebuild. I left the "per Pica plans" gear setup that came with the kit and was having problems with prop clearance. I'm modifying the gear as shown in the Mk II version so I won't be challenged in that respect.

This being your third "Duelly" are you planning any other mods that the flap setup?

RE: Pica Duellist..to FLAP or Not to Flap?
 

Sorry to hear about your fuse[&o]. This kit is the newer laser cut job. Real nice! The first two were the crunchy diecut jobs. Kinda a pain. I am likely to pass on the flaps mod and set the ailerons as flaperons in case I need a little assist in getting the nose up a tad when landing. As for the prop clearence problem, I am using 3 blade (10/7) props and going to set it up for 0-0-0 incidence (like the Mark II). That sould give me a little more clearence. I have not seen the "change in the gear setup" that you mentioned. Can you share some info on that? Thanks!