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Travel board vs. digital level


BDPetersen

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Never having had the opportunity to use a travel board to check rigging, I’ve always wondered what advantage it has over checking say aileron travel with a digital device, such as a $10 level. Is it possible the boards are a throw back to days when precise angle measuring devices weren’t available. Educate me.

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I’ve never used a digital protractor to compare against the travel boards, but I will do it when I’m at the shop.  Both the rudder and the stabilizer will still require some form of travel board to get them correct.

Clarence

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The travel board takes out all the math. With the plane level, the aileron isn't--the top surface of the wing is a descending curve, and the travel board is conveniently marked not only with "0" but also degrees up and down from 0. Without resetting or moving anything. 

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1 hour ago, RLCarter said:

With out a starting point (Zero) the only thing you could check would be total degrees of travel, plus wouldnt be able to do the rudder

In some cases zero is consistent with a short straightedge run across the top of the wing and the aileron, or across the stabilizer/elevator, or some other way.   Likewise you can find zero on the rudder with a straightedge or one of those big plastic adjustable protractors.   I don't know whether all of that is true with a Mooney or not.    Other than the rudder, though, once you know where zero is it should be possible to use a digital level to find the deflections.    Having travel boards does make it all pretty easy, though.    You could check the rudder with a big protractor, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/GemRed-Digital-Finder-Protractor-Stainless/dp/B00W395R5E/

Could actually use that on the rest, too.   Used a big plastic protractor at school and it worked pretty well, but it was a bit clumsy.   I did use my digital level on ailerons, flaps, etc., and we had boards for a Grumman which made it a lot easier.

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