Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Guys, just got back from the hangar. On the bottom part of the wing root fillet, behind the flap the fillet has a bottom. When the flap is deployed, there is a pocket on the bottom side of the fillet where the flaps set in the retracted position.

From what I'm reading here, it sounds like you're saying that that pocket should be blocked off?
It sounds like some guys have done this with tape?

Based on my limited understanding of the flap system, I'm guessing that if I put slack in the cable and reduce the second notch of flaps from 35 degrees to 30 degrees that my first notch of flaps will be reduced from 19.5 degrees to somewhere around 15 degrees?

Thanks for all the help,
Lou

_________________
http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

Lou,
The part I was referring to is the bottom of the wing/fuse fillet. When you put your flaps down, reach up and make sure the fillet still has a bottom skin that would be laying on the flap (parallel) if it was not deployed. Most planes were modified to include this. It will stop a bunt at higher speeds with flaps down.
The stick shake may not be related. Can you define a speed that the shake starts at?
Cubes

I read you. My plane does not have that blocked off. I've taped it off for now but have not tryed two notches with the tape.
Not sure about the speeds. With two notches it becomes a hand full, I think 90mph indicated.

_________________
http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

You should be fine below about 90 kits or 70 something mph. Be careful stalling with anything more than 30 degrees. I would not select 2 notches until I took it way up high and stalled it. Mine went straight down with zero stab authority. That was flaps 40 a long time ago..
If you are going to try it, think it through and be ready to get rid of all flaps!!
Cubes

Yesterday I went out and did some laps. With the filet tapped closed I didn

_________________
http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

1500 feet down and stopped is about right for me @ 4600 Ft with DAs of around 7000 in the summer and little or no wind - I can get it down and stopped in 1000 feet on dry pavement if I want to in winter.......then again, the constant speed prop sure helps with that as well.

1500ft is fine. I don't like to use brakes so mine are usually a little longer. There are a lot of strips you can get into in 1500ft.
Changing the flap bracket is not hard. I just ground a new position for 30 degrees in mine. In fact, I still have 40 available, but just about never use it. The only time I can think of this past year was to get down from 15k ft to KVGT in 20 NM. Hell of an elevator.
Cubes