Electric Rudder Trim
Many builders are talking about installing electric rudder trim. The RV-10 is a very capable cross country machine that could benefit from rudder trim during those long flights. The problem with a fixed rudder trim tab is that it performs best in a narrow range of speed. With the capabilities of the RVs in general and especially the RV-10 there is a need to vary the angle on the trim tab.
I initially heard about trim system that Vic Syracuse installed on the Matronics list. Vic did a very nice job of shoehorning a Mac servo into the rudder on his RV-10. I have heard that you can install this system after the rudder has been built. It takes some careful cutting and the installation of an inspection cover kit but it is definitely doable. The actual flying surface of the trim system is not all that big. It extends from the rudder trailing edge a little more than the width of half a piano hinge. It gives the rudder a more complex look with the control arm extending from the small fairing that protects the exit hole.
Vic did a great job of making it look like it was designed with the airframe. This is always the true test of the person designing a modification.
I’ll post some pictures below for you to get an idea of how it looks and functions. You should be able to click on them and you will go directly to Tim Olson’s site where the higher resolution photos are stored. Thanks Tim.
Have a great time today building and modifying your aircraft.
Dave