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In a message dated 6/25/01 7:31:19 PM EST, 74740.231@compuserve.com writes:

<< The problem here is aileron trim....With one tank empty and the other tank
full, you will run out of available trim if you should slow the aircraft
down for any reason.  Some Lancair IV's have the small fixed aileron trim,
and that would really be a problem.   If you are using auto trim, the
situation is even more dangerous because most pilots are not  aware that
the autopilot has cranked in maximum aileron trim.  Then as they slow down,
the wing gets harder and harder to hold up .   Its an accident looking for
a place to happen. >>


I know of a German Airforce F-4 that crashed back in the mid 80's for this very same reason. Couldn't draw fuel from one wing so they had near max aileron trim to hold the heavy wing up. The the heavy wing stalled on short final and rolled the aircraft inverted.

Paul Klusman

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