tail boom repair

On Dec 20, 12:40*pm, CTEX wrote:
I'm hunting for a first glider and have come across a few with repairs to a broken tail boom. In such a major repair, how do the shops insure that the tail group is realigned to its original position? *Do they use jigs built to factory specs? *Or rely on measurements? Or just eyeball it?

Is it customary for a buyer to measure a glider that has had such a repair, and if so, where does he find the specs? For instance, the distance between wing tip and tip of horizontal stabilizer?

Maybe this just worry-wart thinking, but I've had experience with out-of-alignment repairs on a tail dragger that caused it to fly slightly skewed - and a little slower. Is this an issue with these long-winged ships?

Don't try to over-think this, though. I've seen measurable differences
in tip-to-fin distances even on pristine never-damaged (as opposed to
(NDH) gliders. I've also measured substantial profile differences
between right and left wings of Nationals-winning sailplanes that go
like stink and fly straight as arrows. Except for the latest
generation or so made in CNC-cut molds, even production sailplanes are
hand-built things with measurable differences ship-to-ship and even
across the plan of symmetry on the same ship.

As for a tailboom repair, it's not particularly difficult to jig it
out as straight as makes no difference. If it was done by a reputable
shop like JJ's, or inspected and blessed by a reputable glider fixer,
I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Thanks, Bob K.

Agree with the last post, but let me add one more thing...

If the repair was not properly documented (Form 337) and done by a
reputable licenced repair entity, you should walk away. Such a lack
of attention to a major repair indicates a willingness to shortcut a
host of minor issues, from trailer to towhook, that will come back to
bite you later.

You want to concentrate on flying the new ship with out any qualms, or
sudden maintenance surprises. Reward a seller of a well maintained
ship, and let the lessser ones got to an estate auction. You will do
yourself, your future aircraft, and the Sport a favor....

aerodyne