I have the impression that people generally ride much smaller rear stabilizers than manufacturers recommend for the given wing size.
I realize that may have got something to do with trying to please a market that is perhaps at a lower skill level than some of you…
But are there some rule of thumb to follow pro’s con’s etc.
Hey Seabass, welcome to the forum - imo pros/cons of large/small stab are:
Larger stab, a much more forgiving/stable ride at the cost of performance.
Smaller stab, faster turning/more performance but less stable ride.
It really is a personal choice & you will only know what’s right for you through experience.
I find the longer the fuse the smaller the tail you can get away with.
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Eric, how much does the longer fuse negate the turning improvements of the smaller stab? Are you also adjusting the AOI for smaller stabs, or keeping it similar to larger stabs?
I have recently started playing with stab sizes, and made a small (~170cm2) stab that is flat and has a very low lift/low drag airfoil. It is amazing and completely changed my setup, but I have not yet started playing with fuse length and shims to further adjust this component.