Mxsmanic wrote:
Ron Wanttaja writes:

Generally, no. The weight of the elevators usually put them in the full-down
position.

Does this effect disappear before you are moving fast enough for the
elevators to affect the aircraft's attitude?

On the ground the ailerons tend to flop around whereever you turn them.
They also flop in the wind a lot (which is why you tie them down). Once
you start rolling and air goes over them they (in modern, non-aerobatic
planes) tend to return to center, like a car's wheel.
On some planes the elevator rests full forward on the ground and takes
a bit of strength to hold them in any other position, however once
moving they go to their trim position. Older Bonanza's are an example
of this, they have "heavy" controls on the ground but are nice and
smooth in flight. The Mooney elevator is a very different creature so
it works differently. Rudders always wants to go what ever position the
nose wheel is in on the ground because of spings that connect the wheel
with the ailerons.
BTW: On high performance planes moving the rudders also moves the
ailerons because they are interconnected to create smoother turns.
Slipping requires working against the springs and requires a little bit
more strength than on a C-172.

-Robert