Question about Flaps lever

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Shousa
Senior Airman
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Joined: 01 Apr 2011, 05:26

Question about Flaps lever

Post by Shousa »

If I do the walk-around I cannot move the flaps if they are on the top setting - is that a kind of lock?

Sure it is but after checking the 119 references to the word flap in the manual I am not sure.

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AKar
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Joined: 26 May 2013, 05:03

Re: Question about Flaps lever

Post by AKar »

Do you mean you cannot lower them? Then only thing that comes to mind is that if you've got a pilot in the cockpit? Battery on?

If you mean that you can't move them by hand in walkaround window, then it is probably just made so that they need to be in the lowest position for the test.

Edit: if I said something about Cherokee here, it was because I mixed the forums on my mobile... :mrgreen:

-Esa

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Oracle427
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Re: Question about Flaps lever

Post by Oracle427 »

The flaps must be down for the walkaround so that you can see the linkages and tracks to perform the inspection. When they are retracted, they are under tension and will not wiggle around.

The flaps are extended during the cockpit checks portion of the preflight checklist.
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Tiger_Walts
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Re: Question about Flaps lever

Post by Tiger_Walts »

I know that on the Cherokee the flaps latch into place when in the up position. It's even firm enough to stand on, although it's best not to.

On the 172, I guess the linkages have less play when the flaps are up.

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AKar
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Re: Question about Flaps lever

Post by AKar »

Cherokee's flaps work so that in the up position they are mechanically more or less locked (basically over-centre, if I recall) so that they can be used as a step. Their movement upwards is limited by the ratchet-like locking mechanism in the flap handle, but in all the other positions except fully up they move down by hand pressure, restricted only by a pair of retraction springs under the cabin floor. So there is no free play upwards, as they are held by spring pressure, but you can move them downwards all the way to the mechanical stops in the torque tube - be careful if there are any speed kit fairings, as those might not have enough space in their openings for the flaps to move as far as they mechanically can.

-Esa

Shousa
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Joined: 01 Apr 2011, 05:26

Re: Question about Flaps lever

Post by Shousa »

Thanks all - got it!

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