Keep trim even after losing elevators

[Krusty]

On the 109 (and the 262, by the way) the entire horizontal stabilizers were shifted up or down to trim them out. This is how they could pull out of high speed dives after the elevators stopped responding.

The hinge point was right in front of the elevators, and the front had a mechanism that shifted the leading edge up or down based on what the pilot trimmed it to in the cockpit.


I'm not saying it happens often, but if you were to lose your elevators in a 109, you should retain trim capability for the pitch axis.


Like I said, it doesn't happen often, but it's a wishlist item I've had for a while.

I don't know of many craft that did it this way. Messerschmitt seems to be the only one that did this.

[Xasthur]

Are you sure about the 109?

I know the 262 had an adjustable horizontal tail surface but I didn't think the 109 did.

[Krusty]

It does. That's why you have the hole in either side of the leading edge of the V-stab, where the H-stabs go in. That's where the trim mechanism is. There is also a high/low degree mark in front of this on the V-stab.

I've seen references to it as well. Diagrams, details, etc.

[hitech]

We just happen to jam the trim pulley when the elevator breaks.

[moot]

No unfair advantage?