Gust Lock for Clipper

[Jim Hann]

here is my answer for pretty inexpensive gust lock. To remove is part of preflight. If you forget to remove you probably wont the next time cuzz there wont be a next time. I have 5 of these one for each flap to aileron, one for each side of horizontal to elevator , and one for rudder.

I wouldn't worry about two on the elevator, just more to forget. As for the rudder, my tailwheel held it good and firm during that level 6 TSRA @ Oshkosh in 2015 but it did move off center because I couldn't get the ropes any tighter and the airplane shifted slightly. Whether or not that would put undue stress on the rudder/fin is something I can't answer.

[eskflyer]

6-8" inch circle of 1/4 " plywood , Paint plywood , glue 1" medium density blue foam to plywood circles with contact cement or glue of your choice, drill hole in center of circle, use 6-8" long 1/4" diameter eyebolt and slip it thru hole and wing nut to tighten. I have never lost one in a wind storm and we have been using these for more than 20 years on airplanes. Yes I would put them on the elevator and ruder also. Have seen the damage from not doing that, it aint pretty. Write it into your preflight checklist to remove "gust locks" and check controls free, clear, correct. usually cost about 15-20 bucks to make a set of 5.
And to answer your question does it hurts the fabric. NOPE not at all. have never seen damage or paint issues in 20 + years of using these style gust locks

[clipquito]

Thanks so much! BA