Plane and Pilot

MAY 3, 2025

Depressions in the vertical stabilizer and rudder, as well as stabilator skins and ailerons, all help increase panel stiffness while allowing less under-skin structure. The owner I joined in partnership was the second owner of the Cherokee, and it was based right here, Widell says, gesturing to his spotless hangar at Twin Oaks.

Approach 76

Approach Airplanes Stability Weight-Shift-Control 76

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 2, 2025

Its owned by Lee Smith, 69, who keeps it hangared at Long Island Airpark (NC26), in North Carolina. The Robin has a placard that reads: Rudder in fully opposed direction; Elevator control pulled fully back; Ailerons in neutral position. A hint of the Robins aerobatic pretensions might be the size of the rudder.

Rudder 83

Rudder Pilot Airplanes Center of Gravity 83

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

An elegantly simple rope system inside the fuselage raises and lowers the Gweduck’s water rudder mounted inside the base of the main rudder (right). At that point the project is trucked 5 miles to the Prineville Airport where final assembly takes place in a hangar. I think I’d have figured out the trick in another couple hours.

Airplanes 80

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 80