Chris Kethan Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I'm building a 1/32 F-18C for a friend and I have a question about the Hornet rudders. All my reference photos of static display aircraft show different displacement of the rudders. Some photos show them both deflected out, some show both deflected in, and others show them either both left or both right. What is a correct placement for an unpowered Hornet? Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Walker Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I'm pretty sure this has come up before and if I remember correctly your observations are dead on: they can be in any number of positions. You'd be safe positioning them any way you like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark M. Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I believe they blow in the wind, sort of. I think that's how somebody described it once. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 though these are all A models, I would imagine the C does the same - take your pick! trailing edges both starboard trailing edges both straight trailing edges both outwards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MickeyThickey Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 What is a correct placement for an unpowered Hornet? Which ever way you want to place them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Kethan Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thanks for the timely replies and pix, guys. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lenny Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 How about some pictures of your build Chris? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I believe they blow in the wind, sort of. I think that's how somebody described it once. Not a chance, they aint moving. The flaps could be pushed up, but it was a pain in the arse and they bleed down soon after. We push them up after a wash job to drain the water from the drain holes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarineAir Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I've asked my son about this same subject a couple times. He's been working on C models for almost 4 years now, although he's an avionics guy, not an airframe guy. His opinion was most pilots leave the rudders canted inward when parking the aircraft, since they will take off with them in this position to help the aircraft rotate. Apparently the only time you'll see them both canted outward is if the aircraft sits for days, maybe weeks, and the hydraulics bleed off. He doesn't think legacy Hornets have the ability to intentionally cant them both outward. Only Super Hornets can do that, as a form of airbrake. Like I said, this comes from an avionics guy, so don't take it as gospel. He does see A LOT of parked Hornets, though! Brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 I've asked my son about this same subject a couple times. He's been working on C models for almost 4 years now, although he's an avionics guy, not an airframe guy. His opinion was most pilots leave the rudders canted inward when parking the aircraft, since they will take off with them in this position to help the aircraft rotate. Apparently the only time you'll see them both canted outward is if the aircraft sits for days, maybe weeks, and the hydraulics bleed off. He doesn't think legacy Hornets have the ability to intentionally cant them both outward. Only Super Hornets can do that, as a form of airbrake.Like I said, this comes from an avionics guy, so don't take it as gospel. He does see A LOT of parked Hornets, though! Brian An Avionics guy would know best, it is his flight controls. I was an Avionics tech in the Canadain Airforce on Hornets. I had the basic and advanced flight controls courses. They can cant outward. Shut-down doesn't have a required set position, it is dependent on the last input by the pilot. The only thing we care about is that the pilots drop the flaps. We do signal for this on shut-down after the pilot has done his switching valve check. Don't Avionics guys work the line in the USMC? I had to park/start jets, tow jets, fuel jets, and turn jets (before/after flight checks and oils). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Kethan Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Thanks for the help, guys. Lenny, I'll include some pictures after I get done with the sanding. Right now all I have painted is the wheel wells and cockpit. Now I have another question. Do the slats droop after hydraulic power is removed, or are they positioned down when the aircraft is shut down? All the pictures I have show the slats down on an unpowered aircraft.. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spellbinder99 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I currently work on F-18's for the RAAF as a civilian contractor and do line duties most days. The rudders can be pushed by hand to any position and often are to carry out post flight inspections, in fact I can rarely remember seeing the rudders actually aligned with the fins when unpowered. The leading edge slats by nature of their drive units lock solid when unpowered but are usually down as that is part of their setting on shutdown in combination with the trailing edge flaps. Cheers Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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