CH 801 Pitch Stability

The stick forces in my 801 are very light, particularly so with the dual stick conversion. So maintaining altitude except in calm air (the light wing loading doesn't help either).  Every time you hit a bump that kicks the tail up any the elevator gives strong feedback to the stick and it moves. no other aircraft I have ever flown had such strong feedback.  A moderate bump and if you dont have a tight grip, the stick can fy out of your hand. Forget trimming it to fly hands off for longer than it take to scratch your nose.  I suspect that it is because the elevator is not mass balanced, nor is there an elevator bob weight in the tail. and the overhung mass of the elevator exceeds the aerodynamic forces trying to hold it in position.

It's a work out in bumby air, and trying to fly IFR in anything but super smooth air is an invitation to get busted for altitude excursions.

Is anyone elses 801 behave so twitchy in pitch? If so, what have you done to correct it?

I am considering either some means of mass balancing the elevator or just adding some controlled friction to the elevator controls.   Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks. 

Sam McNair

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    Rob Lankford

    Scotts steering dampers makes an adjustable rotary unit. My 2001 Ducati 996 had a linear damper (looks like a small hydraulic cylinder) but it wasnt adjustable.
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        David Green

        Hi Sam, have you done a full weight and balance to check your c of g. Very aft c of g can make it twitchy....not stable in pitch

        Also check if you have the bigger elevator/tail which was brought out as a modification later....around 2002 I think sure this would help stability.

        Can also try putting in a fairing at tail to avoid air being dumped there....if you search for 801 upgrades by Mark Patey he explains how this can help elevator authority.

        Zenith Upgrades (Part 2of 2) - YouTube

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