Everyone is interested in reducing build time and building a better product. I've been able to do that with flaperons, used on our Belite ultralight aircraft. The time required to build a flaperon structure is now down to less than four hours per flaperon!
This assumes an easy to build wooden jig, which will hold all the ribs in place.
This is an update over our earlier manual, published just a few weeks ago.
These techniques may be applicable to building control surfaces (elevator, rudder, stabilizer, etc.) on your favorite ultralight aircraft.
At Belite Aircraft, here's how we do it.
Table of Contents
Section
A. Specifications
Section
B. Materials
Section C.
Preparation
Section D: Build
Jig; Test Fit Ribs and Bushing/Droppers
Section E:
Glue the Main Spar
Section
F: Glue the Leading Edge, False Ribs
Section G: Balsa
Parts
Section H: Trailing
Edge
Section I:
Trim aluminum placement
Section
J: Trim and sand glue
Section
K: Apply sealant to wood
Section L: Covering
Section
M: Check Fit to wing assembly; install
control horns
Figure
1.
Completed Flaperon on an ultralight plane.
