Hatz Biplane Association

Happy New Year to All.

My local EAA Chapter Tech Counselor paid a visit to my project last week and was looking at my metal ailerons. He asked me if I had done any static balancing or anything to counter the effects of flutter. I thought about all the posts I've searched and read over the years and can only recall the subject of flutter came up regarding the slave strut on four aileron equipped Hatzs. I told him to the best of my knowledge, flutter is not an issue with the Hatz due to the typical speeds a Hatz is capable of. He was taken aback by my comment and relayed a story about a Kitfox that crashed as a result of flutter. Well he got me thinking I should check with those who have gone before me. Has anyone done any aileron balancing and or made some sort of balancing jig to check for proper balance? Has aileron flutter been an issue on anyone's completed project?

Agian I have ailerons on the lower wings only. They are built according to plans of corrugated aluminum, have been extended one bay in length and go all the way to the wing tip.

Hi Ebby,
I am glad you asked! Not because I have an answer, but because that question has been bothering me as well. I too have ailerons on the bottom wing only. I not only extended them in length but in width as well. I made them with a rounded leading edge as a Friese type. They are quite. Light, but the amount of weight it would take to mass balance them without an extension ahead of the hinge line would be prohibitive.
I searched the newsletter archives and didn't come up with anything.
Al

Can't answer you directly, only can say both my Pitts' didn't have balanced ailerons and I flew them both with my hair on fire! 200 MPH, no flutter. My first Pitts was 2 aileron, the second 4. Doesn't mean flutter doesn't happen, I've just never experienced it.

Just sayin'.

The Kelly-D has a notch in the Elevator Nose Spar, into which you can insert metal rod for balancing--even after
fabric & Paint---Jerry

Contact Mark Marino who designed the Bantam. The Bantam is a 2 aileron plane and Mark could probably shed some light.

also, Luke wuest owns "Snooty" which is the LOM powered Hatz that is also 2 aileron.

Wow, what a question. For myself, I trust that the plans I purchased are of a well engineered and proven design. As long as I do not change any flight critical components a question like that should be a mute point, the design has already been proven.

Sometimes one has to look at questions like this as a statement of impressiveness more then knowledge of the fact. If the item in question needs that type of attention I am pretty sure it would be on the plans stating the need to and the how to. I very much doubt one would have to worry about aileron flutter on a Hatz Classic unless your where putting in 450 Hp engine.

If you follow the plans then your fine, if you deviate from them your still fine ..... thats why these plane are under the experimental category.

... and yes, its always very good to be as safe as possible.