Why no flap hinge cover?

Any DA42 related topics.

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

Post Reply
User avatar
neema
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 285
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:43 am
First Name: Neema
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N617DC
Airports: KFAT
Has thanked: 40 times
Been thanked: 97 times

Why no flap hinge cover?

Post by neema »

All the other flap and aileron control hinges are faired on 42 wings. Why not this one?

Image
User avatar
CFIDave
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2678
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:40 pm
First Name: Dave
Aircraft Type: OTHER
Aircraft Registration: N333GX
Airports: KJYO Leesburg VA
Has thanked: 231 times
Been thanked: 1473 times

Re: Why no flap hinge cover?

Post by CFIDave »

Covers (fairings) for the aileron and inboard flap linkage levers weren't added until the DA42-VI came out -- previous DA42 TDI and DA42NG aircraft don't even have those.

I'm guessing that when Diamond did all of their testing of "aerodynamic clean-ups" for the DA42-VI model, they discovered that covering the outboard flap levers did't make enough drag difference to bother with.
Epic Aircraft E1000 GX
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
User avatar
Karl
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:58 am
First Name: Karl
Aircraft Type: DA40
Airports:
Has thanked: 68 times
Been thanked: 102 times

Re: Why no flap hinge cover?

Post by Karl »

None of those are hinges.

The faired ones are control rods.
The unfaired one is a mass balance.

I guess adding a fairing would necessitate an increase in the balance weight which would in turn require further certification and the requirement to have different weights available along with the risk of someone fitting the wrong one. Probably more trouble than it was worth.
User avatar
neema
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 285
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:43 am
First Name: Neema
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N617DC
Airports: KFAT
Has thanked: 40 times
Been thanked: 97 times

Re: Why no flap hinge cover?

Post by neema »

Shame on me for calling it a hinge. I should have known better

I still mourn for all of those who have OCD and can't stand the dissimilar look
Post Reply