Rib stiching

[looped 0]

Hi all I'm working on a mk4 and just finished covering and rib stiching the wings the question I have is do I have to stich the controll surfaces ? Thanks rusty

[Av8r3400 1179]

I don't plan on stitching the tail on my Kitfox project.

[EDMO 1078]

rib-stitching is not required on the wings or tail.

EDMO

[Bandit 286]

The fabric on the tail really flutters. Wouldn't hurt to do it.

[lv2plyguitar 172]

My Avid had those surfaces stitched. 

[akflyer 1427]

I stitched the wings but nothing else.

 

[lv2plyguitar 172]

Your to cheap Leni. 

[looped 0]

Thanks for the help the reason I did the stiching in the first place is in the future I would like to up grade from the 582 and take advantage of the long speed wing Rusty

[akflyer 1427]

Your to cheap Leni. 

 

naw, not to cheap, but it was not in the book to do it so I didn't.  The only reason I stitched the wing was because my brothers KF was having issues with the bottom side sagging down and I did not want to have to deal with trying to inject glue under the fabric to re-stick it a few years after the recover. 

 

More stitching calls for more backing calls for more poly brush to fill it all in and it all adds up.  I was trying to keep the heavy pig light ( I failed miserably when it came in at 571 pounds) But that was due to tires that weighed 35 pounds each and a dash that rivals my cessna

 

Another reason for not stitching the tail is because I knew I would be dragging it through the willows and having rocks tossed at it so I would probly recovering the tail feathers every few years anyway.  I first flew it in 09 and its about time to recover the tail as the ravens have put a few holes in them, trailering hangar rash scraped the fabric a bit and as suspected, the willows and rocks have not been kind to them.

 

I think stitching the tail is personal preference but not required.  We are not flying fast enough to get it fluttering or ballooning on a flat surface.  If they were full air-foiled surfaces, you may have a valid argument for it IMO

 

 

[Bandit 286]

You are right Leni, you do not have to do it. I will stitch my Skyraider tail though. You can not shrink the fabric as tight on the tail because you will bend the tubes, in turn the fabric does flutter a little more than normal. I like the looks of rib stitching on a fabric airplane. The addition of that little weight will mean nothing.