BDK, here are some closer pictures of the tail section for you. It's kind of tough to specifically say the exact number of ribs on the horizontal stabilizer, due to the way the center section of it is built. You can see that there is some sort of structure (that seems quite substantial) in the center of the stabilizer, but I can't say for sure if they're technically ribs, or some other form of structure. Outboard of the attach points, you can see that there are three ribs...an inboard, a center rib, and an outboard rib. In addition, there is a main spar (center), a rear spar, and a support stringer towards the leading edge.
The elevators and rudder on this thing are about as slick an installation as I've seen on ANY airplane! As you can see in this picture of one of the elevators, is an extemely small amount of drag, as it's tucked into the stabilizer nice and tight...
This is accomplished by utilizing steel dowel pins on the elevators (rather than having to install cutouts to install bolts), which simply slide into place on the receptacles firmly mounted to the stabilizer. The elevators are held in place and to one another by a bracket, which also doubles as the bellcrank and counterweight, in between the two of the elevators. The trailing edge of the stabilizer has been formed to exactly match the contour of the elevators for the least amount of drag possible.....
The horizontal stabilizer itself is only something like 1"-1.25" at it's thickest point.
Both it and the vertical fin are each made of one piece of skin that has been formed into shape. How they riveted this thing together, especially in such a nice fashion, is beyond me. Simply fantastic workmanship!
Gary
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Poor Mister Kitty! 
