Airplane Rigging

Airplane rigging has a large influence on aircraft performance and is often the most easily changed. This manual on airplane rigging continues on where most manuals and instructions leave off, and provides some answers to the many questions that arise when building or rigging an airplane.

The factors driving the various rigging geometries are discussed, and methods and tools of measurement are illustrated for many different situations and airplane configurations.

For the homebuilder, the techniques, tools, and procedures given in this book may be used both during and after the construction process. This information is intended to supplement the kit or plans for an aircraft. This manual also discusses experimenting with the rigging of an airplane to increase performance and control in a particular phase of flight.

The maintenance technician of certificated aircraft will find the tools and techniques provided here to be useful in daily shop operations. Troubleshooting rigging problems can be a frustrating and drawn out process. Older aircraft often lack comprehensive maintenance data and their overall structural designs and hardware are no longer commonly used in aircraft construction. This manual discusses many of those factors.

For the pilot, this manual gives insight to the rigging factors driven by design, and provides the language to describe the behaivior of the aircraft in unambiguous terms to the mechanic.