I thought we had discused this but I couldn't find the tread so maybe we haven't.

The bottom sized of my horizontal stabilizer is getting kinda hammered from flying debri...anybody got a good technique to prevent this. I know about leading edge tape but it is the underside that is taking the damage not the leading edge. I'm sure it is happining on landing...perhaps doing standard wheel landings when possible would help keep the tail out of the rocks kicked up at touch down. My landings are much shorter when doing a three-point or tail-low wheel landing but that puts the tail right in line with flying rocks.

Any ideas to minimize the damage?

I would have speculated that it was caused by prop blast when you start your takeoff. If that were the case, you could of course alleviate it by easing the throttle control in slowly if the runway is long enough.

Otherwise, the solution is obvious. Don't do any off-pavement landings!

Get a few bags of marshmallows and melt one end of each one and stick them to the horizontal and elevator until the whole thing is coated.
Bonus - If you crash you can eat your tail covering.
I suggest doing this while real drunk camping at say, Big Bar. You can swing the tail around real close to the fire pit there, that way they won't re-harden before you get them applied.
If I figure out how to play a little chocolate and graham crackers into it I'll let you know!

Marshmallows on the horizontal stabilizer, now that's outside the box! I was going to suggest the tried and true mud flaps with the little naked girlies on them.

whee I think it is just part of the cost of doing business when working your aircraft off field. As noted here, getting a little roll before you really pour the coals to her helps a bunch, but sometimes in a tight spot it's not practical to do so.

gb

Whee-

Besides the throttle technique above, rolling run-ups are supposed to be better than stationary ones.

Also, smooth tires should kick up less rock than grooved ones. If you prefer to stay on grooved tires, there is a thread around here that describes a tool and a technique for modifying straight-sided grooves into vee's. I think WUP was selling powered and non-powered devices to do this.

But getting down to principal- you earned those dings- wear 'em with pride

-DP

If you are trying to raise the tail by pushing forward on the yoke/stick, that deflects it down, and you get more exposure of the vulnerable underside area.

He's talking about the stabilizer, not the elevator.

I don't know of any way to protect it, other than some rubber on the leading edge, but that doesn't help the damage to underside.

I suspect that ribbed tires is a big part of your problem.

MTV

If I could read(and comprehend), I would be dangerous.

There is a fellow in Port Alsworth that has STCs and sells horizontal kits for banged up leading edges.

Joel T. Natwick - TANALIAN AVIATION, - located Port Alsworth, AK USA • Telephone: 907-781-2217 • Fax: 907-781-2217 •

http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... _REV_A.pdf

I think all the STC's are for Cessnas

GR

lowflyin'G3 wrote:Get a few bags of marshmallows and melt one end of each one and stick them to the horizontal and elevator until the whole thing is coated.
Bonus - If you crash you can eat your tail covering.
I suggest doing this while real drunk camping at say, Big Bar. You can swing the tail around real close to the fire pit there, that way they won't re-harden before you get them applied.
If I figure out how to play a little chocolate and graham crackers into it I'll let you know!

They wouldn't last long...my wife loves marshmallows.

I kinda figured it was just one of the prices we pay for playing where we do but i wanted to minimize it if possible. I am positive that the damage is occurring on landing. There has been a little damage on the leading edge but not much and no damage to the elevator. I do give a little forward stick on takeoff but not much. I always do rolling run-ups and I usually don't pour the coals to it until I am moving...besides how much gravel can 85 horses kick up anyways

Find some little mudflaps w/ the pic of Yosamite Sam on 'em.

I think that it's the brakes, not the throttle... When yer still goin fast.

My new Cub is still spotless... So far...

Coyote Ugly wrote:I think that it's the brakes, not the throttle... When yer still goin fast.

My new Cub is still spotless... So far...

Your talking about braking on rollout right? I typically don't brake much when landing unless I have too...parts for my breaks are hard to find and real spendy so I baby them a little. But it makes sense that if I was braking hard while still goin fast it would kick-up a lot of rocks. I'll make sure I'm not doing that unless I have to.

I like the mudflaps with the chick on them in chrome...would match the polished aluminum.

Tires have to spin up fast when they go from zero rotational speed to whatever your ground speed on touchdown...I think it's that instant that kicks rocks up.

I have a huge craving for s'mores now.

yea Lowflying G has some pretty damm good ideas

1SeventyZ wrote:Tires have to spin up fast when they go from zero rotational speed to whatever your ground speed on touchdown...I think it's that instant that kicks rocks up.

That is exactly my thinking and I have a video shows it. And if doing a three point or tail low wheel landing it puts the tail in line with those rocks.

Should have kept that spare Horizontal Stabilizer I had...then it wouldn't matter.

whee, those dings are a sign that you are having waayyy to much fun.

Since the problem is the tail is directly behind the tires on touchdown,...... the solution is obvious. FULL right or left rudder will move the tail off to the side out of the path of the rocks......AND it gives one hell of a ride in a taildragger!

Anyone know the supplier for those little mud flaps that fit on aircraft landing gear?

P.S. I'm serious, you see them on a lot of commercial single engine operators up here.