Pinecone Posted November 19, 2024 Report Posted November 19, 2024 9 hours ago, mhrivnak said: If you're looking for ways to justify the expense, I think you could make an argument that it's also a speed mod! The natural yaw of turbulence causes the plane to briefly travel somewhat sideways through the air, and yaw is corrected by air flow hitting parts of the airframe that it normally shouldn't. If the tail swings right, air will hit the right side of the vertical stabilizer, and possibly parts of the plane's body, pushing it back into a straight position. That must increase the drag profile. Or you could use a yaw damper to keep the airframe pointed as straight as possible through the air flow. Years ago a few of us were going to a fly in breakfast in my friends Cherokee 180D. I was flying from the right seat. Owner was in the left muttering to himself. I asked what the problem was. He said, "Damn you, you fly my airplane 4 knots faster at the same power setting." I pointed out that I was using the rudders (tailwheel and glider experience). 2
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