Gust lock

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Sandy
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Re: Gust lock

Post by Sandy »

Does anyone know the current price for the DA40 gust lock?
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photoSteveZ
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Re: Gust lock

Post by photoSteveZ »

CFIDave wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2017 1:21 pm DA62GustLock.pdf
FYI: The DA62 has a different gust lock that, while attached to the rudder pedals and center stick, also has a separate strap to fit around the rails of the movable pedals. I'm still trying to figure out how to get all the straps to be the right lengths, and where (how high) to attach the lock to the center stick.
The two or three times I've been in a position to use the gust lock on the 62, it's taken me twenty minutes (with some choice words directed at the designer) to get it installed. Most of the time, like Colin, I'm parked at an FBO and they require that the aircraft be towable.
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Re: Gust lock

Post by ememic99 »

Does anyone have an idea how to lock the stick without locking the pedals? I tried just strapping it but it doesn’t seem strong.
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Rich
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Re: Gust lock

Post by Rich »

My dog is not in this fight but I perceive an opportunity for slight adjustments to the design of this gust lock. Many of us have tweaked our DA40 gust lock to improve usability.
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Rick
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Re: Gust lock

Post by Rick »

ememic99 wrote: Wed Jan 05, 2022 10:07 pmDoes anyone have an idea how to lock the stick without locking the pedals? I tried just strapping it but it doesn’t seem strong.
I'm not sure why you would want to lock the other control surfaces and NOT the rudder... but if you wanted to, you could probably fasten the seatbelt around the stick to hold it in a full-back position, and not use the gust lock at all. Your rudder would still be free to flap in the breeze though!
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ememic99
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Re: Gust lock

Post by ememic99 »

Rick wrote: Thu Jan 06, 2022 1:26 pm
ememic99 wrote: Wed Jan 05, 2022 10:07 pmDoes anyone have an idea how to lock the stick without locking the pedals? I tried just strapping it but it doesn’t seem strong.
I'm not sure why you would want to lock the other control surfaces and NOT the rudder... but if you wanted to, you could probably fasten the seatbelt around the stick to hold it in a full-back position, and not use the gust lock at all. Your rudder would still be free to flap in the breeze though!
If you want DA42 to be towable you must not lock the pedals because they steer nose wheel.
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Rick
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Re: Gust lock

Post by Rick »

That makes perfect sense! :oops: I missed that this was posted in the DA42 forum - my bad!
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Re: Gust lock

Post by Soareyes »

ememic99 wrote: Wed Jan 05, 2022 10:07 pm Does anyone have an idea how to lock the stick without locking the pedals? I tried just strapping it but it doesn’t seem strong.

I saw this at an airshow last year. I don't think there is enough room around the stick in a Diamond but I thought it was clever:

IMG_2762.JPG
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Re: Gust lock

Post by CFIDave »

On a Diamond twin, with the rudder pedals cabled simultaneously to both the rudder and nose gear steering, it's virtually impossible for the rudder to move on the ground (since the nose gear steering doesn't easily move with a stationary aircraft). So there's not much need for a gust lock to hold the rudder in a fixed position.

But there is a common need for the plane to be towed (and steered) by the FBO with a tug, which means no gust lock connected to the rudder pedals. All that's really wanted is a gust lock for the stick (to protect the ailerons and elevator from wind gusts). Maybe someone can invent something that will do just that. :scratch:
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Rich
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Re: Gust lock

Post by Rich »

How about a gust lock where the stalk goes down and pushes against the base of the rudder adjustment bracket and leaves the rudder alone. This provides something for the straps to push against without involving the pedals themselves and it preserves the notion of the stick not being held against a full aft or forward stop but in a specific position.
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