The Rebel Retirement Project

The following photos detail a modified flap handle that I built for my Rebel. To date (3/08) I have had only four takeoffs & landings with it, but it seems to work well. I modified the original Murphy flap handle because...well, I just didn't like it.

My design operates by squeezing the upper cross handle downward toward the fixed lower cross handle. This action pulls a pawl/pin out of the guide plate notch allowing the handle to be pulled rearward, or pushed forward as needed. Releasing the upper handle allows a spring to push the pawl/pin upward to engage the next notch. The action of the mechanism is very positive.

One issue I have found with the Murphy designed flap handle, and it applies to my modified handle as well, is that there is so much of an air load on the full length flaperon that it is very difficult to pull into the full flap notch. The aircraft needs to be very slow to do so, and even then it is difficult. My Rebel has 6 degree flap spacing. Reducing the full flap deployment a couple degrees might ease the difficulty. However, I routinely land with 2 notches of flap and find it quite satisfactory, so perhaps it is a moot point.

If anyone would like additional detail feel free to contact me at the listed email address.

UPDATE: As of May 2013 this flap handle has worked flawlessly, without any issues whatsoever. However, I like it better than the Murphy design only in that I don't have to push/flex this handle to the left as you do the Murphy design. Other than that, It works no better or worse than the Murphy design. As indicated above, while in slow flight it is not possible to obtain the third notch of flaps. On the ground you can easily access all notches. In flight it will not go into the third notch down. The only reason I can think of is that there must be too much air load against the full length flaperon to do so. I may have spaced the notches just a bit too far?

DISCLAIMER: If you build this you do so at your own risk.