South Burlington, VT
- Aircraft Year
- 1978 580
- Aircraft Type
- Super Commander
- Reg Number
- N555LP
- Serial Number
- 14405
Hi All,
Thanks for all the interest in the SuperStream Commander STC.
I am starting this thread to share the info and take the questions. Please keep this thread just to SuperStream. I'll start other threads for the other topics.
SuperStream is a change of horizontal tail incidence to lessen drag. This mod has been done in the past on a few other aircraft types, including fairly recently on one of the later Mooney models, and about 10 years ago by Robin Miley on his 112, so it's not rocket science. It has, however, taken a fair bit of work to get it engineered and certified for our fleet.
In the beginning, I saw it only as a change of incidence, but have come to frame it better as a complete refurbishment of the horizontal tail system to address the specific twists and offsets that exist on each airplane.
My test aircraft is a stock '76 114 with no speed mods except for being the inaugural SuperStream'd Commander. She was a very typical 114 before the work: truing at 149/150 at her best. She has picked up 8 knots, and is now the fastest standard-engine 114 I have ever flown (only having seen a few light early B's do as well).
Each aircraft will go through a 27-step process as attached below. I'll need two weeks for each plane, but would ask that a window of three weeks be scheduled. Some things can be checked at your end, with my guidance by telephone, to help avoid surprises at my shop.
Speed/efficiency gains will vary in accordance with the current condition of each aircraft but the 8 knots always claimed by Robin Miley seems to be a reasonable expectation when the tail has both noticeable twist (ground observation) and offset (cruise observation). I have attached a copy of our poster that illustrates what we mean by "twist" and "offset".
I decided to offer a very special deal for the first ten customers, $4,900 turn-key, or $3,900 in kit form. This price covers my labor, but doesn't return anything against my engineering and certification investment... thus after the special, the price will go to $7,900 turn-key.
We are thrilled to see so much interest, and Martine and I have decided to open the special beyond ten to anyone who would like to commit and prepay by this Friday, Oct 1. Seems we are at about 11 now.
You can evaluate the twist in your tail by putting the controls in the lock and comparing the alignment from side to side. There may also be "twist" in your tabs which can easily be spotted by comparing the tab/elevator alignment from left side to right side. The offset is evaluated in level cruise flight by looking back to see how much out-of-stream your elevators are flying. I have attached an example picture below.
If your tail is due refurbishment anyway for wear and hinge play, and/or your plane is in obvious need of a complete re-rig, it would make sense to just do the SuperStream program. As you will note from the process description, we stream the tail, and then proceed to a comprehensive whole airplane re-rig.
The fly-in was great fun.
Jim and Martine
Thanks for all the interest in the SuperStream Commander STC.
I am starting this thread to share the info and take the questions. Please keep this thread just to SuperStream. I'll start other threads for the other topics.
SuperStream is a change of horizontal tail incidence to lessen drag. This mod has been done in the past on a few other aircraft types, including fairly recently on one of the later Mooney models, and about 10 years ago by Robin Miley on his 112, so it's not rocket science. It has, however, taken a fair bit of work to get it engineered and certified for our fleet.
In the beginning, I saw it only as a change of incidence, but have come to frame it better as a complete refurbishment of the horizontal tail system to address the specific twists and offsets that exist on each airplane.
My test aircraft is a stock '76 114 with no speed mods except for being the inaugural SuperStream'd Commander. She was a very typical 114 before the work: truing at 149/150 at her best. She has picked up 8 knots, and is now the fastest standard-engine 114 I have ever flown (only having seen a few light early B's do as well).
Each aircraft will go through a 27-step process as attached below. I'll need two weeks for each plane, but would ask that a window of three weeks be scheduled. Some things can be checked at your end, with my guidance by telephone, to help avoid surprises at my shop.
Speed/efficiency gains will vary in accordance with the current condition of each aircraft but the 8 knots always claimed by Robin Miley seems to be a reasonable expectation when the tail has both noticeable twist (ground observation) and offset (cruise observation). I have attached a copy of our poster that illustrates what we mean by "twist" and "offset".
I decided to offer a very special deal for the first ten customers, $4,900 turn-key, or $3,900 in kit form. This price covers my labor, but doesn't return anything against my engineering and certification investment... thus after the special, the price will go to $7,900 turn-key.
We are thrilled to see so much interest, and Martine and I have decided to open the special beyond ten to anyone who would like to commit and prepay by this Friday, Oct 1. Seems we are at about 11 now.
You can evaluate the twist in your tail by putting the controls in the lock and comparing the alignment from side to side. There may also be "twist" in your tabs which can easily be spotted by comparing the tab/elevator alignment from left side to right side. The offset is evaluated in level cruise flight by looking back to see how much out-of-stream your elevators are flying. I have attached an example picture below.
If your tail is due refurbishment anyway for wear and hinge play, and/or your plane is in obvious need of a complete re-rig, it would make sense to just do the SuperStream program. As you will note from the process description, we stream the tail, and then proceed to a comprehensive whole airplane re-rig.
The fly-in was great fun.
Jim and Martine
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