SonexBuilders.net

Hello Everyone! After attending Sonex transition training in Oshkosh, changing oil, plugs, air filter and other maintenance items for my new to me Sonex - I noticed something that seemed odd with the rudder. When I was checking movement of my control surfaces, I noticed that rudder range of movement in one direction is greater than the other.

Is this normal? If so, any tips to how different it should be would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help!

Take another look. It is most likely just an optical illusion. The hinged side of the rudder is flat and the other two sides are angled. Watch to see how much travel there is on either side of the tail tip. That should tell you how much you have in each direction. It should be equal. The plans requirement is 25 degrees in either direction. If you have a little less than that in one direction you may have to file a little off of the rudder horn where it contacts the stops on the fusealage.

Keith
#554

+1

AP
#618

Thanks you gentleman! I really appreciate the help as I consider this aircraft my "prebuild" to learn the ropes.

If you are talking about the force required to hand move the rudder surface, that is perfectly normal for a nose gear Sonex. The nose gear is directly attached to the rudder on one side. So in my case, I can move the rudder fairly freely on one side because it is pulling against a rudder centering spring only but extremely difficult to move the rudder in the other direction because I'm attempting to move the nose gear with it.

Bob Vossman
Sonex 550 440 hours