Flaps on a Yak

I've recently found I have a strong Forster 29 (see classifides)and have decided to use it in a Sterling Yak 9 for OTS. In the past all Yaks I've flown had operable flaps- but with the OTS penalty imposed I'm thinking of making them fixed. Seems to me that the OTS pattern could be flown quite easily by a light Yak sans moving flaps. Anyone have any experience with a flapless Yak? Thanks,

Dale - I flew the Sterling Mustang which is quite similar to the Yak for six years without flaps. Between Dan and myself, we did quite well in OTS, Classic and Profile stunt. Build it light and it works fine without flaps. We flew it with an OS Surpass .26 and a SAITO .30. When I built it, I put cathedral in the wing and it seemed to improve the flying.
Bob Z

I flew one in OTS with a McCoy 35 and no flaps. Good airplane.

I have two Yaks going right now. Both have flaps, but I see no advantage to them.

Build light, and without. Currell

Ditto what Currell said.
Bill <><

I loved mine with flaps. Extremely tight turning. Where people go wrong on these, I think, is in the control system. Build the controls solid, build it light, and it will do almost snap turns.

That said, your question had to do with Old Time Stunt. Although I personally am not so worried about the 10 point penalty, I would say, "do what you wish." Since there are very few square corners in the OT pattern (wingover, climb, dive, square), you get back 10 points for what you give up in these maneuvers. And you will give up something (which is why the 10 point penalty was added--to even things out). You have to remember that flaps were developed at the time that the Old Time stunt pattern was being flown. Those who developed them must have thought they were beneficial, even for the pattern of that day.

Well You say Patata and I say Potatoo! Since 1992 my Mustang has had several engines including the classic Fox .35. But the best performing combination has been with flaps and the OS LA .25. This is my most favorite fun flying plane! It takes me back to 1951/52 when I had my first P-51 and Yak 9. Light is the word as in 1/16 doublers and quality wood elsewhere. Flaps make a hugh difference in my experience. Gil Reedy built one and made the flaps stationary and the thing was a dog! He flew mine and remarked "that the design had no right ot fly that good"! He rebuilt the thing and used the flaps to his own delight! Naturally suite yourself! All of this is just for fun!

Was Gil's plane the Mustang or the Yak? I think the Yak has a shorter tail moment- I'm going to check that out for sure in a minute. Thanks,

>I've recently found I have a strong Forster 29 (see
>classifides)and have decided to use it in a Sterling Yak 9
>for OTS. In the past all Yaks I've flown had operable flaps-
>but with the OTS penalty imposed I'm thinking of making them
> fixed. Seems to me that the OTS pattern could be flown
>quite easily by a light Yak sans moving flaps. Anyone have
>any experience with a flapless Yak? Thanks,

Dale,

I am currently flying a Yak-9 in OTS without flaps and it does everything just fine without them. The airplane will also do a reasonable facsimile of the AMA pattern. The moments are just too short for flaps to be very effective on this airplane.

I was thinking the short-coupled configuration probably made the flaps not too necessary, it's a shorter tail moment than the P-51, so the flaps will be fixed. Thanks, all. It's certainly handy to put in a question and get good input so quickly! Once again, thanks,