S-H Ventus light-bar flap position indicator

In my Ventus 2 there is a thin a fiberglass rod attached to the flap control rod. The thin fiberglass rod runs to a switch reading box behind the seat next to the wheel well where all the sensors are enclosed. I would guess there is a Hall switch magnet attached to the rod inside the box to activate each of the sensors. Designed like this you do not have to try and attach everything near the flap handle.

The flap indicator is one of the surprises that I have found I would hate to do without now.

A low tech system I have seen is to run a plastic or fiberglass rod forward to the panel from the flap control rod and put a mark or the rod and set up a scale on the panel. Pure mechanical with no electronics.

On my LAK-17a, the flap settings are engraved into the steel detent
ar: -1, 0, 1, 2, L

What could be simpler?

"Tim Taylor" wrote in message
...
In my Ventus 2 there is a thin a fiberglass rod attached to the flap control
rod. The thin fiberglass rod runs to a switch reading box behind the seat
next to the wheel well where all the sensors are enclosed. I would guess
there is a Hall switch magnet attached to the rod inside the box to activate
each of the sensors. Designed like this you do not have to try and attach
everything near the flap handle.

The flap indicator is one of the surprises that I have found I would hate to
do without now.

A low tech system I have seen is to run a plastic or fiberglass rod forward
to the panel from the flap control rod and put a mark or the rod and set up
a scale on the panel. Pure mechanical with no electronics.

It all depends in where you have to look to confirm your flap setting. The flap indicator in the SH allows the pilot to confirm the flap setting and change it effectively on take-off roll without taking your eyes off the tow plane. In a thermal with other gliders I never have to look down to confirm what setting I am in. In the SH "a" models it is harder to see the flap handle location so the position indicator is even more helpful.

Don't have to look. I start the takeoff roll at -1 and, as I get aileron
authority, it's simply, "click, click, click". That puts me into
thermalling flap for the tow.

Those are some spiffy setups with the LEDs, however, and, as a sometimes
geek, I may need to make one "just because"!


"Tim Taylor" wrote in message
...
It all depends in where you have to look to confirm your flap setting. The
flap indicator in the SH allows the pilot to confirm the flap setting and
change it effectively on take-off roll without taking your eyes off the tow
plane. In a thermal with other gliders I never have to look down to confirm
what setting I am in. In the SH "a" models it is harder to see the flap
handle location so the position indicator is even more helpful.

On 10/06/2013 04:29, Tim Taylor wrote:

... A low tech system I have seen is to run a plastic or fiberglass rod
forward to the panel from the flap control rod and put a mark or the
rod and set up a scale on the panel. Pure mechanical with no
electronics.

Very reliable. Ask any C-47/DC-3 pilot.

GC