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Rigging corrected... Pirep

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N33GG

Galactic Commander
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I bought my Cherokee 180 a couple of years ago. Straight clean airframe, but it didn't fly right. Left wing always heavy, nose heavy, never met book cruise numbers, and with full flaps did not have enough stabilator authority to keep the nose wheel from making a 3 point landing. I have flown and owned enough Cherokees to know something was wrong.

Last annual, I asked my mechanic to check the airframe extra carefully to see if anything was bent or twisted. All checked out OK. All that was left to question was rigging. This year, I told him I wanted to go over all of the rigging by the book, and make sure it is absolutely perfect and correct. I bought the tools off the internet, and told him to correct the length of the stud (per previous post discussions...thanks). He said if I would only tell him what was wrong, he could tweak things and fix it... he said he does it all the time, and it would cost less. I said no dice, that is probably what is wrong, too many mechanics tweaking, and the money will be well spent in my opinion. So he agreed.

When he finished the work, I asked if everything was pretty much correct when he checked it, and he said no, there was a lot out of whack. Surprise!

Today was a perfect calm clear day here in Texas, and I conducted the first test flight after all the rigging had been changed to specs. I flew the plane at various altitudes from low to high, multiple takeoffs and landings, stalls, steep turns, low power, high power, slow, fast, and everything in between. Total flight time about three hours... but hey, it was a beautiful day, and I was enjoying every minute.

Results: I now own perhaps the best flying Cherokee on the planet. It is balanced, with light even and responsive controls in every axis, during steep turns and maneuvers it almost flies itself, and landings are textbook easy with any flap setting...plenty of pitch authority. Drag is clearly reduced, and I picked up about 10 mph in cruise.

This is a 49 year old airplane, so I expect a few things to be wrong, and rigging that is off is really no surprise with an airplane of this age. I once owned a Mooney that was just over 10 years old and had horrible rigging needing attention. I have flown enough airplanes to pretty well know when something is out of whack. Sometimes I fly in other peoples airplanes as an instructor, and tell them they really should get their rigging checked, as something is wrong with the way it is flying... and they look at me like I'm nuts.

Getting the rigging right has made a dramatic improvement with my airplane. I am thrilled it had the result it did. There is a great satisfaction flying an airplane that is balanced and flies the way it should.

If you have any doubts about the rigging on your airplane, I highly recommend getting it checked, and if needed, corrected. I'm glad I did just that.

FWIW, just my .02, YMMV, etc.
 
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