Bob K wrote..
As you point out, the big problem is bending of the
wing with fully deployed flaps, which tries to bend
the flaps in the plane in which they are most rigid.

If one were to bounce, or land in a rough field, in one's ASW-20, with 45
degrees of flap on, the downward motion of the wings would force the deployed
flaps to move up, thus bending the internal flap push-rods. I would think some
sort of sliding push-rod arrangement might prevent this situation. The Ventus
has a gas strut that will allow the deployed flaps to come back up. Do I have
the Ventus gas strut figured out correctly, you Ventus drivers?
JJ Sinclair