I apologize in advance if there is a topic about these already, but I couldn't find it using the search.
I was wondering if anyone on here has real world experience with aileron spades and if they make enough difference to be worth the $600.00... I've heard they are great, but never flown with them, so any advice would be great. Thanks.

David

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Go sign yourself up at Biplane Forum and ask around there. I haven't got the slightest idea how they work but that device is a way of life on Stardusters and their ilk. I had no idea such things could be put on a C150. Why I wonder? Does yours have stiff ailerons?

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQTbH0aTUek

I've got them on my 2004 Husky. I think all Huskys have them up until about the year 2008 when the wing and ailerons were redesigned. I can't say I know what it's like to fly without them though since they are a stock item.

Alex

Emory Bored wrote:Go sign yourself up at Biplane Forum and ask around there. I haven't got the slightest idea how they work but that device is a way of life on Stardusters and their ilk. I had no idea such things could be put on a C150. Why I wonder? Does yours have stiff ailerons?

Um, don't wanna put them on my C150, Im thinking about putting them on my 7GCBC. I see lots of Citabria with them on, but never flown in one that has them...

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The concept is simple...the more you deflect a control surface into the relative wind, the greater the force required to keep it there or deflect further. The spade uses the relative wind to balance that force. Effectiveness likely varies from aircraft to aircraft, and mainly on the airspeeds used. Low speeds, they're not really going to make much difference, but if you're doing acro and ticking 100+mph they can make a huge difference. That's why the 8KCABs have them. Deadstick Steve put some on his new Highlander, and I can say that it is extremely responsive. I only flew his old Highlander for a few minutes last year, so I can't really remember all that well how the difference in control input compared.

7GCBC...maybe. Do you feel like your control input requires a lot of ooomph?

Its not to bad. Bit when I'm doing aileron rolls or anything that requires a lot of aileron it does require a fair bit. The elevator and rudders are light on the controls, just the ailerons are heavy. I know how the concept works, I was just wondering if anyone has had real world experience.

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By real world experience do you mean stiches in your forehead? because they are great for that! as for controle presure I have no idea

ccurrie wrote:By real world experience do you mean stiches in your forehead? because they are great for that! as for controle presure I have no idea

I know what you mean. I've been around a few ECAs that had spades and hit my head on them damn near everytime I walked around the plane. If I put a set on I'd mount them on the inboard end of the aileron, right next to the flaps. I don't walk through there much cause the strut is there, so I'm hoping that would eliminate the need for stitches.

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Like Zane said, I made a set for my new Highlander because my ailerons are a little shorter than usual and they made a big difference. They made the roll rate quicker and the stick force lighter. I like them a LOT!

Steve
Wild West Aircraft

Flown with them on two citabrias and they make a significant difference on that wing. Not sure about other airframes.

And yes, as previously mentioned you will most likely hit your head a time or two before you figure out they are there.

My '05 High Country Explorer Citabria had them factory installed inboard on the ailerons (spades). The KCAB has them installed outboard on the ailerons. The inboard installation on the Citabrias is due to the fact that the factory does not own the STC for the outboard instalation on the 7GCBC. The factory owns the installtion outboard on the 8KCAB. I have flown 7GCBC's without the Spades and mine with the spades. The spades work like power steering on a car..input effort rolling the planes takes much less force..this is what I like about my plane.
HC

When I took aerobatics lessons eons ago in a couple different Decathlons, both had spades, and the ailerons were very, very light. And I did clunk my head on them, more than once.

Cary

Alex wrote:I've got them on my 2004 Husky. I think all Huskys have them up until about the year 2008 when the wing and ailerons were redesigned. I can't say I know what it's like to fly without them though since they are a stock item.

Alex

The '05 Husky was the first year without spades. Aviat increased aileron cord, decreased length by one rib bay, changed the hinge point, and increased flap length by one bay. Result is supposed to be about 50% better aileron response, lighter feel, and a steeper descent profile due to wider flaps.

I have an '05 "new wing", but have only a few hours in Huskys with spades or "legacy wing" for comparison.

bumper

I had an RC Wilga years ago (RIP) that I added aileron spades to, helped immensely with roll rate, since it had full span ailerons with the servos at the wing root. I also added a leading edge cuff, canard tied into the elevators, and some big foam tires with cub-style gear, rubber bands and all. That sucker was too much fun. All the best ideas with the most ill-conceived garage construction.

Cary wrote:When I took aerobatics lessons eons ago in a couple different Decathlons, both had spades, and the ailerons were very, very light. And I did clunk my head on them, more than once.

Cary

If you wear a ball cap during preflight the bill is likely to block your view of the approaching spade so you run into it smacking your head. But if you take the cap off, you then have no padding for when you do. This seems like a no win situation.

If you wear a ball cap during preflight the bill is likely to block your view of the approaching spade so you run into it smacking your head. But if you take the cap off, you then have no padding for when you do. This seems like a no win situation.

Same rule applies to the trailing edge of the wing.

Cary

NEVER have hit my head on a spade...but I've still got a raspberry on ther top of my head from hitting the flap hinge during my annual last week..dammit!