Originally Posted by
cavuman1
Lucky Post #1111, IFMU! I really enjoy your posts and admire your and your son's piloting skills. I am fascinated by your Waiex - a sleek and solid bird. Does the ruddervator empennage tend to give Dutch roll flight characteristics? I used to fly a friend's V-35 Bonanza. Great aircraft, but her tail tended to wander a bit at cruise speed.
- Ed
Thanks Ed! There is dutch roll in tubulence but not when it is smooth. The level is similar to a Pawnee. Actually for normal maneuvering at cruise I leave my feet on the floor because it stays coordinated. The pedal forces are so light it's easier to do more harm than good. For aerobatics I do find I need rudder, especially with full aileron deflection. I am not sure if the dutch roll in turbulence is due to the Y tail or the overall neutral stability of the airplane.
Another interesting quality of the Sonex series, straight tail as well as Y tail, is that you need right pedal power off to stay coordinated. The VW engine turns opposite to a Lycoming etc. In climb, it needs left pedal but we trimmed it so no pedal required in cruise.