Electric flaps , brakes for legacy sonex

[jowens]

Here is my adoption of John Gillis' electric flap installation. Similar to what has been posted.
Bolting the parts in on completed sonex would be challenging. John did- quite an amazing feat! I'd be happy to email larger pictures to anyone interested. I also have a version of the arm made out of cheap steel I would be willing to lend out as a template.

parts

1Setup-small.jpg (31.68 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

Actuator

Actuator-small.jpg (27.58 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

Version 1 of arm, similar to Johns I didn't like how it interfered with the rudder cable

arm version1-small.jpg (23.21 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

Front pivot

Front pivot and brace-small.jpg (27.85 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

Front pivot and brace installed

FrontPivot brace installed-small.jpg (38.96 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

[jowens]

Second set of pictures.

front pivot installed view 1

FrontPivot installed1-small.jpg (42.43 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

Front pivot view 2

FrontPivot installed2-small.jpg (39.99 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

Install complete

Install complete-small.jpg (38.17 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

Pilot view

Pivot fuselage attachment

Pivot brace screws-small.jpg (29.42 KiB) Viewed 5093 times

[jowens]

The plans

The plans on 1/4" graph paper

Plans-small.jpg (42.8 KiB) Viewed 5094 times

The amazing flap stops!

Flap stops-small.jpg (36.18 KiB) Viewed 5094 times

[Bryan Cotton]

Jim,
Very nice. I had considered cutting off the left hand drive horn to save weight as I have center controls, but maybe I'll hold off.

[WaiexN143NM]

Hi brett,
Heres the post.

WaiexN143NM
Michael

[jjbardell]

I bought a new motor to install electric flaps but have decided to go another direction. Still in the box. Pm if anyone is interested at my cost - 10%.

[Ron]

Hi folks

I only joined this forum today and I receive my Sonex tomorrow. It is a taildragger with a Jabiru 3300 and 100 hours on the clock. I live in New South Wales, Australia.

Pardon my newly acquired ignorance of the plane, but what are you referring to as a "Legacy" Sonex

I am lookjng to putting electric flaps on mine. It is the model described above and I am wondering if the 12 VDC 150 lbs 3" stroke linear actuator as described by WaiexN143NM in his post of February 2017 would be the same for mine.

Thanking you in anticipation of your answer(s).

Cheers

Ron

[sonex1566]

Hi Ron,
Lesson 1....Legacy models are the original design, where the nose becomes narrower from the pilot's shoulders forwards. They're usually powered by either VW or Jabiru engines. The newer 'B' models fuselages are parallel from the cockpit forward and can be powered by almost anything. Mine is a legacy Sonex with dual joysticks so that I can pretend to be a Spitfire pilot. As for the electric flaps....try it first. I personally like the KISS principle myself.

However, if you let the speed build up too high the amount of muscle required for full flap is pretty high. Enjoy your new toy!

[GraemeSmith]

......so that I can pretend to be a Spitfire pilot......

Too funny - that was actually a selling point for me. Throttle in left hand, stick in right, a "Malcolm" hood (well almost) and a left turning engine. That and flying a curved approach to land so you can see over the nose. Only thing missing - 90% of the horsepower.....and the elliptical wingtips..... :-)

The Real Thing

[GraemeSmith]

To be serious for a moment about electric flaps. Why?

I hear and have experienced that pulling flaps 20 to 30 is almost impossible. But that's not really true of you unload the wing or slow down enough.

I pull Flaps 10 below 80KIAS.
Flaps 20 about 70KIAS and
Flaps 30 below 55KIAS when it is quite possible. It also puts a lot less strain on the flaps. If you are slow enough and go Flaps 30 - the plane doesn't balloon on you. It slows right down for touch down.

A motor and gearing to force them down on such a small plane seems counterproductive - putting unneeded strain on everything. As well as adding weight and complexity.

Indeed the attraction to me of the flap handle is the ability to get rid of all the flaps instantly - which really improves a short field touch down. The plane stops flying for sure and sticks.

I'm not saying I'm right - just have a different approach to the issue.

YMMV