Doesn the Zodiac use a non-conventional aileron hinge?
Yes. There is no hinge. The aileron is connected to the main wing by a solid piece of 0.016″ aluminum skin (actually, the top of the aileron itself). This skin flexes as the aileron is deflected. Chris Heintz (the designer) writes that tests show the hinge will last forever. In real life the prototype has been around since 1984 and is still fine. Since many people do not believe any of this, the plans show how to substitute a standard piano hinge. I’ve stayed with the ‘flexing’ skin hinge myself.
