Roy Bourgeois wrote:
Doug:

Actually - your observation is quite perceptive. The 1-34 IS a bit
under-ruddered. However, the problem is not it's size but rather the
fuselage length and the distance of the rudder from the center of the yaw
axis. The 1-34 original design concept was to be a "metalized" Slingsby
Dart - with optional 15 or 17m wings. Schweizer only made 1 set of 17
meter wings (nobody wanted them) but they made the fuselage much longer
than necessary for a 15m ship. Compare the fuselage length between the
1-34 and the 1-35 - both are 15m gliders but there is something like a 40"
difference between center of yaw axis and the rudder hinge line. So - you
would have to make the rudder much, much, bigger on the 1-34 to have a
significant effect (and that creates a weight and balance problem because
the weight is so far back).

This is why the big open class gliders like the Nimbus 3 have spoilers on
the wing tips to help the rudder. Because of the fuselage length needed
for the long wings - you can't make a rudder big enough.

I'm confused: are you saying the 1-34 has a weak rudder because the
fuselage is too long? If you are, could you explain how extra length is
a problem, because normally that increases tail effectiveness.

--
-----
change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA