Nieuport trim page

Notes on Nieuport Trim

Here's some data I've got from different Nieuport pilots about the trim of their planes. Take it for what it's worth.

ZK-RFC plans number 1145

6 degrees sweep

2.5 degrees incidence

220lbs 6 foot 2inch pilot

3/4 inch LE spacer back aft (tailplane)

4 degrees engine down thrust (not enough)

3 degrees engine left side thrust

435 lbs empty

slightly nose heavy in current config, especially with full fuel.

1835cc VW twin spark noise maker.

best wishes Mike Kindon. New Zealand.

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Dick Lemons N124DL:

1 sweep = 7

2 incidence = 0º

3 pilot = 190 lbs.

4 spacer under stab L.E. = 3/16

Mark and I used 7 degrees sweep to compensate for the lighter Rotax engine. We didn't have to change anything when we went to the VW except use a thinner spacer under the stab LE.

Mark and I both intend to increase the incidence to 3 degrees as soon as we have time. Tom and Dick S. have already done this and it gets the tail up in flight for a better view over the nose.

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Dick Starks, N124DS

1. sweep = 5º

2. incidence = 1 1/2º

3. pilot weight = 220lbs of fighting flab.

4. spacer under leading edge of stab = 1 1/4"

Note: Tom and I built ours originally with 0º incidence. When we rebuilt them after the flood of 93, we added the 1 1/2º. Before that, I had about 3/4" spacer. After the rebuild, I had to go to the 1 1/4" spacer.

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Tom Glaeser's plane.

1. sweep = 5º

2. incidence = 1 1/2º

3. pilot weight = 160lbs of skinny-Minnie.

4. spacer under leading edge of stab = 3/4"

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Rick Bennett's Nieuport 23.

1. Sweep - 5 degrees

2. incidence - 2 degrees to the bottom of the wings

3. pilot weight - 150 lbs.

4. spacer under stab L.E. - 1/8 soon to be removed.

5. gross wt. - 650 full of fuel

6. downthrust - 2 degrees

Note: Long wings, CG 1/2 inch forward empty and 1 1/2 inch forward full. I wonder if the longer gear drag being lower has anything to do with my not needing a spacer? ( Rick made his gear legs "true scale" so his plane sits quite a bit higher than the plans call for.)