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Ed,

When I built my flaps, there was a gap on the inboard half of the flap leading edge and the wing trailing edge when the flap was fully extended.  This condition arose because the flap upper skin did not have enough material to fill the gap.

After the flap was constructed and the final bid placed on the flap leading edge and spar, the leading edge was "heat gun" shaped to provide for a proper curve during extension.  I then put 4 keepers (stiffening ribs) in the area where the gap would occur to ensure that air pressure could not deform the leading edge and cause a jam on retraction.  I have seen no warping in that area in the 3 years I have been flying.

Another possible solution is to extend the flap leading edge skin enough to eliminate the gap -- ergo, no jam could occur.

Do not take a chance in this area -- The only time this problem would show up is retracting from full flaps during a go-around.  This is not the time to have the flaps jam.

Scott Krueger
N92EX

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