So What's the Story with This???

[BigTex]

Okay Mooney experts, below is a picture of a metal tube attached to my rudder.  I have some ideas why it's there but if there's anyone out there that can provide some history behind this, I'd love it hear it.

 

 

[dsimes]

I was told this was an 'anti flutter' component. Anyone aeronautic experts out there?

[omega708]

I have wondered the same thing many times.

[aviatoreb]

Maybe you can put a small flag in there?

[1964-M20E]

It is a condo for mud daubers. 

[rbridges]

Maybe you can put a small flag in there?

 

or maybe a wind sock?

[BigTex]

I was told it was to hold a pinwheel to keep the birds off the vertical stabilizer.

[DaV8or]

I was told this was an 'anti flutter' component. Anyone aeronautic experts out there?

 

That's what I was told as well. Not sure if it's true though. Is this on the older, short rudder?

[Hank]

There's nothing like that on my 1970 C. What year is yours again?

[BigTex]

1965 C Model

[Marauder]

I'm surprised you guys don't know what this is! When you build a model airplane, you need to trim the excess plastic off of the part! Seriously, the only thing that would make any sense would be for anti flutter. Have you looked in your POH and see if there is anything listed in your equipment weight & balance? Can't say I have seen one on a Mooney...

[carusoam]

My 65 C was known for it's anti-flutter and flag mount. It was the short tail version.

Best regards,

-a-

[Dale Logsdon]

I took mine off for a while. (cheap speed mod)  The tail seemed to oscillate with my feet off the rudders in rough air like a "V" tail and didn't want to stop until I put my feet back on the pedals. Seemed to fly  much better after I put it back on.

[Cody Stallings]

It is for balance. It appears that someone installed the tail on backwards, which gives it a slight forward CG. I have been told it is to pack depleted uranium In to help with the CG issues.......

[takair]

It is likely to keep the rudder from having a dead zone with no authority. I think Dale alluded to what happens without it. I think it was installed on the short rudder aircraft. Aerodynamically similar to a gurney flap. It effectively makes the trailing edge of the rudder broader without a redesign. You will see wedges and other methods to do this, even on bigger aircraft. My 64 has it as well.

[Hector]

My 67C has it as well

[Bob_Belville]

the tube is on my '66E which sports the short rudder with a trim tab at the bottom.

[flyboy]

_{My '61 B model has it as well.  I have been using it as a place to store an allen wrench in case I get stuck away from home and have to reinstall the tie down points.  I thought it was a very practical tool storage ideal from the mind of Al Mooney.}

[201er]

So the older Mooneys need it cause they have a shorter rudder but since they made the rudder higher on newer ones they don't?

[Gone]

I'm with Flyboy on this.  I think it's a pencil holder for the folks doing maintenance and annual inspections.

[Bob_Belville]

I suggest that those of you who really think that tube is trivial might not want to remove it. Like the stall strips on your wings that don't look like much, remove them and you just became a test pilot. 

[carusoam]

It's the handy dandy, anti-flutter, flag holder for the made in America crowd.

I really think Al used it for the lone star flag!

Just remember to remove the flag before flight.

Best regards,

-a-

[BigTex]

Pretty obvious... Pinwheel holder to keep birds off the rudder.

[DaV8or]

I'm with Flyboy on this.  I think it's a pencil holder for the folks doing maintenance and annual inspections.

 

Yep, you got it. It's for pencil whipped annuals. Usually the pencil blows out by the time the IA gets to the back of the plane and so there is a spare provided.

[rbuck]

My 70 C doesn't have one, although I'm not sure if it's a short or a long rudder.