Page 8 - Aeronca 7A Interactive Service Manual

Ball bearings are also used in the aileron bracket supports.

Position light wiring is provided in each wing and is attached to the drag wire intersections running from
the fuselage to the wing tip front.

Rigidity between front and rear spars is accomplished by the use of eight drag wires and four compression
struts. The drag wires are heat treated steel, 125,000 P.S.I. Rockwell test, and IN NO INSTANCE SHOULD
THEY BE REPLACED WITH SOFT WIRE. Care should be used when rebuilding or repairing the wing
to avoid the use of tools such as pliers which might scratch or crack these wires. A small scratch in this
material may develop into a crack and structural failure.

The compression struts are X4130 round steel tubing, not heat treated, to which brackets are welded on
each end. These compression assemblies are bolted to the rear and front spars.

Wing leading edges are reinforced with .016 – 24 ST 52 S ½ H. aluminum. Replacement of these parts
should be ordered by numbers shown on the drawing. Specify left or right when ordering any leading edge
section.

Wing tip bows are located at the outer wing tip as formers. The bow is made up of ½” .035 – 1025 steel
tubing and fastened to the tip rib, front and rear spars with clips as shown on the wing drawing.

COVERING
A new and simplified method of attaching fabric to the wing ribs has been used on the Aeronca Champion.
¾” pinked tape is laid over the fabric and rib and fastened into place with aluminum washers, Number
1-2331, and Number 4 x ¼ stove head PK screws over which is laid 2” pinked tape doped to the fabric or
fabric attachment wire is placed over ¾” pinked tape doped in place. The tape and wire are covered with 2”
pinked tape doped to fabric. These simplified methods of attaching fabric save many tedious hours of rib
stitching formerly required when recovering wings.

CAUTION: Wire attachment may not be used for partial rib repair. It is advisable in this
instance to drill new holes between the wire attachment holes and attach fabric with 4 x
¼ stove PK screws as mentioned in first instance. When replacing whole ribs with wire
“stitching” the ends should be cut and tucked in as shown on wing drawing.

AILERONS
Aileron frames are all metal, single spar, fabric covered, attached to the supporting brackets with clevis type
fittings. The leading edge of the aileron is designed to provide additional ease of control movement. Fabric
is attached to the aileron by the same method used on the wing.

Aileron travel limitations are: 28.5° plus 0° minus 2° up – 18° plus 0° minus 2° down.

NOTICE: FLEXIBILITY OF AILERON HINGE BRACKETS
Aileron floating action is perfectly normal and allowances have been incorporated in the design of the
wing to compensate for it. Due to the length of the hinge bracket and the narrow base attachment on the

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