Did a search and couldn't seem to find any information on BCP. Supercub.org did have a thread on this subject, but I thought I'd ask this bunch if anyone has had experience with these. From what I've been able to read, the consensus is that they do make a difference. Have you installed them? Like 'em? Worth the money? Inquiring minds want to know!

Yes, not really and definitely not.

MTV

Yes, long before CC persued the STC.
On my cub, wouldn't be withouth them, on some other cubs its a toss up.
'Worth' is relative... Again, my cub wouldn't be without them, but if I was concerned about the price, I'd use 'alternate' means to accomplish the same thing.


To elaborate, my cub has a longer wing, longer flaps and ailerons, vg's etc... You don't need an aeronautical degree to realize that doing that much to a wing and not addressing Pipers lame tail is not the optimal situation. I have flown with several people in my cub and pulled them off when asked about them. Without fail every person that flew my cub with and without them ordered a set from CC or generics directly afterwards YMMV

On Bearhawk #357 we were looking for more tail authority at very slow speed. We did an experiment by using 2" packing tape and did a 1" overlap glue side to glue side. One side we stuck to the top of the elevator and the other side to the bottom of the horizontal stab. I believe Maule does something very similar.
It achieved better control at low speed and made it very touchy at cruise speed. We ended up with a third of the gap sealed. I would imagine each plane will be different. The tape thing is a good cheap way to test but be ready for a big change if you go full gap seal.

I bought a set a while back. Had them off and on a bunch. Trying to convince myself that I didn't waste my money. The only time I could tell a difference is in very slow flight, the elevators feel alittle smoother. I would probably save my $$ for more av gas next time.
Mike

RoughAir wrote:I bought a set a while back. Had them off and on a bunch. Trying to convince myself that I didn't waste my money. The only time I could tell a difference is in very slow flight, the elevators feel alittle smoother. I would probably save my $$ for more av gas next time.
Mike

Yes, on the slow end of slow flight is what they're for, and the only place they really do much. When operating in the slow end, a cub's tail gets baggy.... no big deal, everything works, and it is a good indicator of how close to falling off you are, but with the gap seals on it tightens back up and gets almost as sensitive and tight as it was in cruise. On some cubs the difference is about as subtle as adding vg's. So not everybody (or every airplane) is going to notice a big change. Like vg's a cub will do everything just fine without them, like vg's some swear by them, some swear at them, unlike vg's, they are *relatively* cheap, and unlike vg's trying them on for size involves just a few minutes .

The box stock answer to mods is always 'save your money and buy more gas'. But if you already have all the gas you need and are asking strictly about the mod in particular, I'd say there's probably not many out there that legally do anything to a flight characteristic at $200.00 so don't expect the difference to be miraculous , and you probably wont be too disappointed.

If in your avatar I saw a nimble CC 11 or PA 11, and had an inclination that your flying was purely fun and light I'd say you're probably not going to see much. But I don't, I see a belly podded top cub that probably gets loaded up with camping gear and flies heavy a fair amount


Two potential downsides;

If the gap in your surfaces is baggy, like say you have minimal fabric and paint, and also keep it polished, one may try and depart. If it completely leaves, all is well. If it partially leaves, it makes quite a racket banging around back there . Some people add a dap of adhesive to the trailing edge of the stab.

The other potential downside is that they magnify things in both directions... In other words in heavy turbulence when the tail gets slammed by an air bump you will feel it more back at the stick.. This goes un noticed by most, and is not a big deal, but if you are one of those that gets the willies from turbulence, it is something to be aware of.

Take care, Rob

Mike and Rob, thanks for the Pireps gentleman. I think I'm going to give them a try for myself and see what happens. God knows I've spent more on dumber things in the past

scottnt wrote:Mike and Rob, thanks for the Pireps gentleman. I think I'm going to give them a try for myself and see what happens. God knows I've spent more on dumber things in the past

Hey, if the price per inch of that rubber doesn't scare you, there's simply no down side. They're easy to install AND remove. As Rob says, some of the early ones departed company with the plane. My understanding is that CC changed the design of the stuff a little...they stick better.

MTV

The CC seals made a big difference on the Carbon Cub I built. I also did what 175 magnum did, but using 2" wide urethane leading edge tape instead of packing tape. Did it on both my Rans S7's. If there is a gap, I would seal it..

i tried them on my elevator on my super cub tonight. Did a bunch of touch and goes, put them in, did more pulled them out. Tail came up a little quicker/ easier, that was all i noticed on my plane. Not worth the $250 for my cub. Didn't try it in the rudder. all my landings were slow, drag it in landings.

Tom

Thanks for the update Tom. I still haven't pulled the trigger on them yet. Might just try some tape and see if I can tell a difference. Hood River is only about an hour and a half flight from Yakima, maybe Cubcrafters will let me try out a pair and see if I like 'em before I buy 'em