MY new CTSW has heavy stick and rudder

[Ed Cesnalis]

I expected stabilator forces to be heavy and they are but flaperons are worse.  Leg is sore from left pedal needed to taxi strait ahead.   

Once around the pattern wasn't enough at all for me to understand and adjust to these changes.

 

[WmInce]

Jeremy needs to do some adjusting.

[FlyingMonkey]

Is it a 2007?  Does it have the extra pitch spring?  If you center the stick on the ground and then release it, it will fall forward with a clunk if the extra spring is in there.

You should always seek factory guidance on an SLSA, but I removed the extra spring on my ELSA and it made the airplane better and less fatiguing to fly.

[Roger Lee]

You're comparing apple and oranges. Your old CT is not like your new one. It's just different and you're not used to it. Start all trims at a zero mid point. Then once in level flight trim the pitch first, then the ailerons and then the rudder. It should be fine then.

Don't try and make permanent adjustments in the trim controls until you fly it a while and reset the cabin trims.

I can't tell you how many Ct's have come in and they think their trim adjustments are all out of whack or their plane won't trim.

Follow the order above and you should be good. Stick pressure is going to be different because it's a different build CT.

[Tom Baker]

Also sometime in 2006 they changed the rudder centering spring to a heavier spring.

[Tom Baker]

If it doesn't roll straight on the ground the steering rods need adjusted.

I have seen extra stiff ailerons due to the pushrod rollers in the wing needing lubrication. They are very hard to see and get at to lubricate. Also the bearings on the ailerons them selves sometimes get stiff.

[WmInce]

51 minutes ago, Tom Baker said:

Also sometime in 2006 they changed the rudder centering spring to a heavier spring.

Now that’s interesting. Why was that?

 

[FlyingMonkey]

1 hour ago, WmInce said:

Now that’s interesting. Why was that?

 

I’m assuming they wanted it to have a little more resistance to feel like a heavier airplane, probably the same reason for the added pitch spring.  Maybe an effort to reduce landing incidents due to PIO and over controlling?

[Ed Cesnalis]

40 minutes ago, FlyingMonkey said:

I’m assuming they wanted it to have a little more resistance to feel like a heavier airplane, probably the same reason for the added pitch spring.  Maybe an effort to reduce landing incidents due to PIO and over controlling?

I seem to have heavy springs or heavier springs on all 3 axis.  Took 15 minutes go figure out how to fly it.

Managed to get a few photos too.

[Tom Baker]

1 hour ago, WmInce said:

Now that’s interesting. Why was that?

 

I think it was due to the nose wheel pant that sometimes with the lighter spring the rudders would become pretty neutral, meaning they wouldn't center on their own. Not a big deal if you are hand flying the airplane. It was also about that time that hey started installing a autopilots on a regular basis. With the autopilot you could wind up with the airplane flying in a pretty significant skid because of the rudder not centering.

[WmInce]

48 minutes ago, Tom Baker said:

I think it was due to the nose wheel pant that sometimes with the lighter spring the rudders would become pretty neutral, meaning they wouldn't center on their own. Not a big deal if you are hand flying the airplane. It was also about that time that hey started installing a autopilots on a regular basis. With the autopilot you could wind up with the airplane flying in a pretty significant skid because of the rudder not centering.

I have heard a similar explanation and I tend to agree with that. 

[Ed Cesnalis]

My complaints are greatly diminished after flying it in calmis / smooth air.

[FlyingMonkey]

My 2007 is quite heavy in roll.  It’s not bad once you get used to it.  I noticed I sometimes push against my left hand with my left knee when making right turns, kind of subconsiously reducing the amount of force my arm has to apply.  I’m guessing I picked that up before my shoulder surgery to lessen force on that shoulder.

I think the rudder force required on my 2007 is just about perfect for me.

[Ed Cesnalis]

photos look as good from niner charlie tango as they did from two charlie tango

 

 

[Ed Cesnalis]

The controls now feel okay.  This plane feels bigger / heavier / more powerful.  @Roger Lee was right, the performance increase is big.  Its hard not to attribute it to the Sensenich prop.

I only have 2 hours in it now. It seems like a 129kt airplane.

[Mike Koerner]