I test flew my newest modification on my TriQ 200 today! In the past 2+ weeks I cut out a hole in the top of the bottom fuel tank so I could run push/pull tubes from the stick directly to the elevator actuator arms. The hole wasn't big but the tubes needed a valley to run in.I used 2 turnbuckles with left and right hand treads from McMaster Carr. I lock one turnbuckle down with jamb nuts and leave the other free to turn but which has a limit to keep it from screwing out of the rod end bearings. My old system used a bungee strap to pull the ailerons over to the light side of the Q. I could see that they added a bit of stick pressure and also looked like they might add some drag esp when I am solo and very left wing heavy (the ailerons were quite remarkably deployed to offset).The flight today was a much improved TriQ! I may have increased my cruise speed by about 6 to 8 mph. The jury is still out on that as I don't remember exactly what the former cruise was. Only that the old indicated was somewhere between 145 to 147 and I don't remember what altitude those number come from (2300 to 4000 msl maybe). Today the cruise was mostly at 154 mph and that was at 4000' msl. The altimeter was 3007 and temp was around 45 degrees. My airspeed is off about 8 to 10 mph slow at cruise so I figure true airspeed was around 174. I could be wrong but at least I feel I had an increase in airspeed.The stick pressures were almost surreal as I trimmed the elevator back and forth. Just a little trim and it rolled quite nicely and easily. The handling is much better than adjusting the bungee trim and loading up the system. In the past I worked quite extensively on the sparrow strainers and they are neutral for cruise without the old spring pitch trim. It has been removed and the pitch is lite so the roll trim is not loaded up with up or down pressures on the old spring system.All it takes to roll the airplane left or right is one finger on the trim wheel!In the past I have had a bit of slop in the elevator system. When I would do an aileron roll the plane would be out of trim after the roll. So I attacked the elevator torque tubes and actually used 4 large Cherry max pop rivets to help the -3 bolts that held them in place (I know it's going to be really tuff to get them off in the future). Now they are rock solid! I also (with the help of Terry Crouch's article/interview with the late Dave Richardson and his advice and also Paul Fisher's input) did the mod to the inboard end of the elevators. The mod makes a bit of a rib and also surrounds the tube in the elevator with BID and also Flox. It also keeps any fuel from getting in through the bolt hole access in the top and bottom of the inboard end of the elevator skins compromising the bond with the tube and the surrounding foam. The mod can now drive the entire elevator on the inboard end if needed. Just a bond with the foam and micro was of concern for me.After the test flight I need to adjust the elevators at the torque tubes because the elevators don't come down enough. (The landing payed off at about 90 mph! Whew, good thing I noticed that it took a lot more airspeed to get air born)So in essence in the last 2 weeks I1. Improved my airspeed2. Eliminated a safety problem with my elevators.3. Took out all the slop in my elevators. (I did 4 aileron rolls today and the trim was spot on after the roll!)4 Made a roll trim that is solid and easy in action.5. Cut out the top and re-glassed the bottom fuel tank with a "valley".6. I had to move the fuel sending unit and the overflow tube a bit to the right to make room for the "valley" in the fuel tank. 7. Lessened the stick pressures significantly in roll (Pitch was already lite).8. May have improved the roll rate as the elevators actuate just a tiny bit in sinc with the ailerons plus they are not fighting each other now. Has anyone seen "Honey Lamb"?! She probably feels forgotten! But this weekend she had to drive from Enid to Dallas (while the TriQ was down) to spoil our Grand babies and see our son and daughter in law. It is a 10 hour round trip by car (and she drives fast!). In the TriQ 200 it is just a 3 hour round trip! She loves this airplane esp when it comes to seeing her babies!!! ;o)And I got to spend time with my "Baby". Or as Sandy Hoskins says "the fiberglass bit#@ch" (Oh thanks Sam for always answering my phone calls with questions) Get em done guys! In this day and age, of fuel prices and airspeed, the Quickies just make great sense!!! Bruce Crain
____________________________________________________________
Woman is 53 But Looks 25
Mom reveals 1 simple wrinkle trick that has angered doctors...
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/50a9ab0a37dee2b096ebest01vuc