Stab for RAF2000

[joeheli]

Hi an doing some reserch on the net for 2 place gyrocopter, and I saw this
stab for the RAF. I reallt don't understand why they put the stab in the upper front of the engine? Can some one explane this to me? :confused: :rolleyes:

[barnstorm2]

Joe,

I might be wrong but I don't think that the stabulator is a horizontal stab. I am under the impression that it is sort of a trim device for the rotorsystem.

There have been two or three discussions on this device in this forum so you may want to do a search on stabulator.

Personally, I am a skeptic, and feel that a nice big hstab would be better. However, I am a computer engineer not an aeronautical engineer so I will leave the argument to them.

One of my trainers, my principle trainer in fact rode in one at Benson Days and he said it did make a very distinct postive difference.

[KenSandyEggo]

Would you trust someone that has a photo of their product and doesn't even know how to spell it correctly?........"Stablator"

[Gordon Gibson]

No Ken I wouldn't.
Joeheli: I don't understand it either.

Thanks, GG NZ.

[Doug Riley]

It's a semi-intelligent trim spring. It senses airflow direction and creates pressures within the control system that tend to keep the rotor flying at a fixed angle of attack. The offset gimbal head already does this to an extent by sensing differences in flapping angle.

Because this new device creates its trim forces aerodynamically instead of by stretching a spring, it also should reduce annoying stick forces during ground operations. Not a bad gizmo, but not a HS, either.

It can't stop PPO. PPO is caused by a severe imbalance of forces in the airframe, not in the rotor or control system.

[Brian Jackson]

Thank you, Doug. Your articulation and "cut to the chase" explanations are very welcome and appreciated. I understand the function and mechanics of the "Stabilator" but fail to see how it substitutes for the tail feathers Mother Nature had the good sense to put on birds... at least the flying ones :D . I like the concept, and think it would be a good addition to an horizontal stab, but not a substitute by any means. RAF's "Stabilator" is an aerodynamic "sensor" of sorts and not a control surface initself. At least that's my take on it. It's cool for what it is though.

Regards,
Brian Jackson

[ben]

rotopix , jim logan has one on his ship which i flew not long ago it trims out the ship nicely. dougs right it really smooths out the stick.

[Vance]

I flew Jim Logan's ship also and It took me about 20 minuets to stop PIO. I never stoped alltogether, just enough to have Jim let me alone. I have not had this experance in a Goren bros modified RAF of the Sparrowhawk. I want to be clear that I was causing the instability and when I would leave it alone it would fly itself quite nicely.

It didn't seem as though Jim's machine was any more or less manuverable than any other Autogiro that I have flown. I had a lot of fun in it. Thank you, Vance

[Rotor-Head]

in the 40's and 50's, Sikorsky tried using these "auto-trim" devices attached to the swash plates on helicopters . The pilot of this helicopter is Stu Graham. Great guy, lives in Maine.