Stits SA-3A Playboy

[prasmussen]

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.
7715

[Snaproll]

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.
7715

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

[Snaproll]

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

[prasmussen]

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!

[ATTACH]7723

[Snaproll]

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

[prasmussen]

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?

7727

[prasmussen]

7732

[prasmussen]

OK

[Snaproll]

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?

7727

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

[prasmussen]

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 tho7739

[prasmussen]

Yike!7740

[Snaproll]

Yike!7740
Brings back memories. We built our own coal fired blast furnace, cut our own gears, did the drilling and grinding, then heated and bent our own gears. The good old days....... Don.

[prasmussen]

Grove says they will bend aluminum gear to whatever size and "gun barrel" drill the legs to eliminate a brake line. Anyone had experience with them?7754

[Sam Buchanan]

The drilled Grove gear has appeared on many RV-8 aircraft.

[prasmussen]

7772

[Snaproll]

7772
Attached photo is N8K in early testing before inverted fuel system, new cowl, canopy, and the trademark red and white sunburst paint. Late 1952. Don

[prasmussen]

Thanks Don! Do you remember if those are Piper cowling latches?

[Snaproll]

Thanks Don! Do you remember if those are Piper cowling latches?
Not sure. When Ray replaced the first cowl nose bowl with the T-Craft nose bowl, I think he went to Dzus fasteners instead. Don

[Snaproll]

Not sure. When Ray replaced the first cowl nose bowl with the T-Craft nose bowl, I think he went to Dzus fasteners instead. Don
After new cowl, paint, canopy, and inverted fuel system... Don