PA-12 heavy pitch

[Charlie Longley]

I checked out a friend in my PA-12 to instruct. He has a bit of 18 time but this was his first time in a 12. He said the pitch control was quite a bit heavier. I haven't flown a Super Cub in 30ish years. Is this everyone else's experience? And does a 18 pitch control system help it? My 12 has 18 tail feathers and an O320.

Still debating if I want to fix up my 12 or sell it and buy a Super Cub.

 

[PIPER J5.5]

Fly it til you wear it out and then sell it to me. Leave just enough life in it to fly it to cvo

 

[Bill Rusk]

It has been my experience, limited though it may be, that most PA 12s with 0320s/0360s tend to be heavier on the pitch control and require more trimming than an 18. It could be a CG issue (and probably is), but I don't know that. Just my opinion


Bill

 

[mike mcs repair]

does it have "balanced" elevators on it or the original?

 

[PerryB]

To add to Bill's comments, forward CG would be a suspect for sure, but also consider that the 12 doesn't have as much downthrust relative to the chord line so it will be more pitch/power sensitive. I'm not sure if this is part of what you're experiencing but yes they do get heavier on the stick when banking and cranking.

 

[Rice farmer]

Our 12 with O290 and stock tale was nearly unflyable after rebuild. We had to put the 18 trim on it. It still requires much more trimming than our 18's. And it does have a forward cg.

 

[kase]

Probably still has tall pedestal torque tube

 

[stewartb]

Tall pedestals are for the PA-12's longer aileron throw. The elevator cables are attached to the stick, right?

Nobody's mentioned elevator bungees.

 

[kase]

PA12 torque tube is longer on the bottom. I think 3/4". Thats for the aileron throw. Several Pa18s modified like that to increase aileron travel for amount of stick movement. They have tall pedestal like J3 and early 18s. Not as much leverage when pulling back on stick.

 

[Charlie Longley]

It has balanced tail feathers and an O320 so probably a little nose heavy. But my fat ass was in back when he was flying it.

 

[skywagon8a]

Haven't flown a -12 in years but I've always been under the impression that the -18 was more nimble. Perhaps that is what your friend was noticing. Going from a -18 to a -12 one (at least I do) gets the impression that the -12 is rather doggy/sluggish.