Flight control rigging

[KSMooniac]

Quote: jetdriven

According to Blil Wheat, the max allowable droop (down 2 degrees) on flaps and ailerons is the most speed in a Mooney.   Of course we are going to test that one out.

[KSMooniac]

Quote: daveydog

All that said, how much would rigging cost, would I get 3-4 more knots, and how can I find out the answer.  Can someone send me the contact information for Webers.  Thanks

[daveydog]

Scott.

 

Thats good advise.  Thanks.  Going Flying now for no other reason to test.  THX

[jetdriven]

I know on Bonanzas, Cessna's, and Glasair II, reflexed flaps are faster. The Flight Design CT even has a -5 flap setting for cruise.  But none of those airplane have laminar flow airfoils.

Quote: KSMooniac

Hmmm... my flaps are down after my last rigging session (due to aileron and flap twist) and I lost several knots in cruise.  I think 0 or even reflexed a degree or two (-1 or -2) would be much faster.

[bnicolette]

Finally getting my plane to Henry Webers for some work.  I am going to fly it over to Lancaster, PA tomorrow morning with my kids.  We always do Saturday morning breakfast (boys morning out), so I told them we'll have breakfast in Lancaster then drive the rental car home.

Webers are going to do the flight control rigging, Gee Bee baffling, & possibly install the cowl fix from LASAR.  Looking forward to seeing what changes come about.

[bnicolette]

I heard from Webers today.  The spinner was still about 1/4" below the cowling so they want to shim the engine into position before they start the flight control rigging check as apparently this will change things a bit.  It is really a comfort to have the plane with such a reputable MSC knowing that what they do, will be done correctly and completely.

[carusoam]

Brett,

How do we know where the engine is supposed to be either static on the ground or in flight?

With ailerons we have travel boards.

I do know, if it is hanging really low, check the mount for broken welds.  That will surprise you...

Best regards,

-a-

[bnicolette]

You got me Anthony???  I would hope they know though!  Just guessing, but if the cowl is on properly the spinner should line up with it?  I had new Lord mounts put on earlier this year and there were no issues with the engine mount itself.  The only thing left in question was the amount of shimming needed to line up the spinner/clean air inlet with the cowl perfectly.  My local mechanic did the Lord mounts but I am leaving the "fine" tuning up to the guys that "specialize" in Mooneys and have the tooling to do it correctly.  I haven't heard anything negative about Webers and only praises, so I am pretty confident that it will come out "right on the money".

Brett<----------------Crossing fingers!!

[pjsny78]

Brett,

I spoke to Webber last week about rigging when I was there for some minor work. When you pick up the plane could you tell us if you notice a speed increase and how many hours it took to complete.  I would be very interested in hearing your story.

Patrick

 

[jetdriven]

Brett: I learned from someone here that often the J cowl "rides up" after flying and the engine is not drooping.

[bnicolette]

Quote: jetdriven

Brett: I learned from someone here that often the J cowl "rides up" after flying and the engine is not drooping.

[jetdriven]

Cool. I am interested in the outcome. Post a PIREP and photos when she is done.  Mine is getting the cowl treatment in January.

[mooney2201]

i have had rigging done to my m20j, they did an excellent job.but did take a few days,,cannot be windy,must be calm days,they have to rig the ailerons and then tweeeek,,,,it ...they will even streighten the controls,so they are level in flight..bowie maryland,freeway airport.mooney service center 1 301 262-6544 good luck mooney2201

[bnicolette]

Update:

Talked to Dorn at Henry Weber today.  The only thing left to do on my plane now is the cowling mod to keep it from floating up.  The engine is shimmed in alignment, Gee Bee baffling is installed, and the flight control rigging is complete.  He told me that just about everything needed adjusted; Flaps, Ailerons, Rudder, Yoke.  However, he reports that after many test hops it is dead on and claims he had a true airspeed of between 165 - 167 at '7500?????  Well, I certainly never saw that kind of speed.  It was always 158 or so.  I'll be interested to see if it really made that much of a difference.  Talking with Dorn though.....He is a real straight shooter and KNOWS his stuff.  He must be like a rigging guru.  I have totally enjoyed working with Dorn at Weber and he has been really good about calling me and keeping me in the loop explaining what they were doing.  

JetDriven (Byron)...

Dorn says he will take some pictures along the way with the cowl mod installation.  I will forward them to you when I get them.  They are going to start on that either Friday or Monday.

[KSMooniac]

165 knots TAS, at what kind of power setting???  

Regardless, nice to hear that they got her straightened out and flying right.

[fantom]

Quote: KSMooniac

165 knots TAS, at what kind of power setting???  

Regardless, nice to hear that they got her straightened out and flying right.

[bnicolette]

Cool, I got to be fantom for a minute.  Sorry bud I didn't notice that I was not myself.  Above is actually my post.

[jetdriven]

That's super news, Brett. Can you get them to share the rigging specs as well?  I would assume 2 degrees rt rudder and zero on ailerons and flaps.  But doesn't hurt to ask.  

[Parker_Woodruff]

Very good news on the speed.  My 1990 M20J-AT  was a pretty clean, light airframe (had a couple speed mods from previous owner) and the only times I ran it ROP in cruise were to "see what it would do".

The absolute best I ever saw was WOT, 7500', 2650 RPM = 168 KTAS.

On a couple other occasions I tried a similar setup and would see 164-165 KTAS.

[aviatoreb]

You had me worried for a minute Brett. I thought my J had slowed down ")">

Back when mine was new, I'd see 168 kts at 8,000 ft, WOT and 2,600 RPM sometimes. Now I'm happy with about 162-3 kts, at WOT, and 2550 RPM, 100 ROP. 20 or so LOP, and I save 1.5 GPH and give up 7 or 8 kts.

[fantom]

Quote: Bnicolette

Cool, I got to be fantom for a minute.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: fantom

           

[fantom]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

           

[bnicolette]

Hi all,

Picked up my plane from Henry Weber today and flew it back to Latrobe. (KLNS - KLBE)  I am happy to report that the airplane is hands off at altitude and at first glance I am noticing about a 5 -7 knot improvement on the TAS, using the airspeed indicator).  (I will do an actual TAS test soon)  They did the flight control rigging, baffling, LASAR cowl mod, and shimmed the engine into perfect alignment.  The plane just feels smoother, I am assuming because the cowl fits a lot better now??  When I landed I didn't have to pull the cowling back down, so the cowl mod seems to be working great.  The CHT's are all very close now.  Although I can't say about cooling as it was pretty cold out today, I was able to put the cowl flaps in trail during the climb with NO problem and the highest they got was 325 during the climb.  I probably could have just closed them, but I was IMC and didn't want to focus in on them.

I am sold on this maintenance facility.  Hats off to the guys at Henry Weber, LASAR cowl mod, and the Gee Bee baffling.  Everything worked out great!!

It's nice to be done doing things to the airplane now...........well until the next thing that is.  

Merry Christmas everybody.

[bnicolette]

Quote: JimR

Jim