That makes some sense. I would think that the elevator being in the
neutral position should hold level flight at cruise though making it not
have much lift at takeoff speed. That would be the case in an aerobatic
plane that didn't have a negative incidence on the horizontal stabilizer
built in for auto correct.. If neutral at takeoff caused a climb, then
cruise speed would take a negitive force either by the elevator, or by the
trim tab to keep the nose down at cruise which would make extra drag. I
don't doubt that the gust lock holds it negitive but I don't think it would
be for that reason.
Hope that's worded okay, hard to explain.

On some Cessnas particularly the 182 for sure the control yoke lock does
not
lock the elevator in neutral but slightly nose up. Giving the elevator a
nose
down force. This is to prevent the aircraft from taking off with the
control
yoke lock installed or otherwise locked, for example with something less
visible than the factory lock. Elevators are set to neutral for rigging
by
using an external lock, typically a couple of pieces of soft wood and a
long
bolt or screw.

Agreed, we will check it over comepletely.
Wayne

Sounds like the elevator at least is seriously out of rig. Properly
rigged the
elevator should hit the stop and then any internal stop under the panel
should
hit. Some aircraft don't have an internal stop or only have one. But in
any
event if you have two inches of movement on the elevator with someone
pulling
the yoke back you have a problem. I would also check the ailerons and
rudder
for similar rigging problems.

John Dupre'