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Thread: Stits SA-3A Playboy

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    Stits SA-3A Playboy

    Building a Stits Playboy over a number of years. Relocations and kids made some of the materials disappear unfortunately. So, am getting to the wing attach fittings and remember someone saying that the plans call for the wrong angle of incidence. My plans say 3 degrees and are dated August 1957. Anyone else heard the angle was changed?

    There was a modification to the horizontal stab where the front tube crosses the fuselage. I have those drawings if anyone needs them.
    Name:  SA-3A Elevations.jpg
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    Last edited by prasmussen; 02-11-2019 at 06:32 PM. Reason: Needed a picture :-)
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    Playboy

    Quote Originally Posted by prasmussen View Post
    Building a Stits Playboy over a number of years. Relocations and kids made some of the materials disappear unfortunately. So, am getting to the wing attach fittings and remember someone saying that the plans call for the wrong angle of incidence. My plans say 3 degrees and are dated August 1957. Anyone else heard the angle was changed?

    There was a modification to the horizontal stab where the front tube crosses the fuselage. I have those drawings if anyone needs them.
    Name:  SA-3A Elevations.jpg
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    Will pull the archives this weekend and see if I have the answer. I know the two place was 2 degrees but not sure about the single place. Will let you know what I find. Vr.. Don Stits

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    Quote Originally Posted by Snaproll View Post
    Will pull the archives this weekend and see if I have the answer. I know the two place was 2 degrees but not sure about the single place. Will let you know what I find. Vr.. Don Stits
    Reviewed the original prints and working drawings and appears 3 degrees is correct for the SA3A Playboy.
    VR..... Don Stits

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    Stits SA-3A Playboy

    Quote Originally Posted by Snaproll View Post
    Reviewed the original prints and working drawings and appears 3 degrees is correct for the SA3A Playboy.
    VR..... Don Stits
    Thank you very much Don. If you promise not to make fun of them, I'll send some pictures when starts to look more like an airplane. Three degrees it is!

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    Last edited by prasmussen; 02-16-2019 at 12:03 PM.
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    Playboy

    Quote Originally Posted by prasmussen View Post
    Thank you very much Don. If you promise not to make fun of them, I'll send some pictures when starts to look more like an airplane. Three degrees it is!

    [ATTACH]7723
    Appreciate the pictures when you reach that point. No, I won’t laugh, remember the original and all of the trial and error with all of the designs. Best wishes.. Don. EAA Lifetime 43201

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    So here's a thought: the wing outboard of the strut attachments seems vulnerable to twisting, especially since Raymer recommends I enlarge the ailerons slightly. Anyone know where advice about the double drag wires can be found? Would it be wise or just extra weight to stiffen the outer portion of this wing?

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    Last edited by prasmussen; 02-23-2019 at 09:07 AM.
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    OK
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    Last edited by prasmussen; 02-27-2019 at 06:25 AM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by prasmussen View Post
    So here's a thought: the wing outboard of the strut attachments seems vulnerable to twisting, especially since Raymer recommends I enlarge the ailerons slightly. Anyone know where advice about the double drag wires can be found? Would it be wise or just extra weight to stiffen the outer portion of this wing?

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    Would recommend staying with original design which performs well, has plenty of aileron for both low speed and high speed maneuvers, does not have a wing twist issue, etc. When final rigging is accomplished, you will be applying a slight twist to achieve the wash out called out in the plans. I have no idea what the qualifications are for those recommending modifications nor how many aircraft they have designed, built and tested. Best wishes.... Don

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    Thanks Don!

    Quote Originally Posted by Snaproll View Post
    Would recommend staying with original design which performs well, has plenty of aileron for both low speed and high speed maneuvers, does not have a wing twist issue, etc. When final rigging is accomplished, you will be applying a slight twist to achieve the wash out called out in the plans. I have no idea what the qualifications are for those recommending modifications nor how many aircraft they have designed, built and tested. Best wishes.... Don
    REALLY appreciate your opinion! Hardly a surprise I'm getting all kinds of advice from you-can-design-an-airplane books and the local hangar visiters. My aviation pals are still building and we'll see how sound the advice is on their first flight I guess. IMHO, maintaining the spirit of the 1950's design is what makes this airplane so special. It has a place in the history of home building I'm sure too few people know about.

    I would still like to know how much stronger double drag wires make a wing. Saw an example being constructed at Oshkosh for what I remember was a racer with fairly short wings. Wish I had a picture. Do have a picture of a GeeBee wing with single wires thoName:  GeeBee Wing Shape.jpg
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