Jeff,
The technique looks just like what we have been using for years to curtail
turbulence around racing sailboat rudders and trim tabs. I know it works well
enough, in the denser medium of water, to provide measurable speed improvements.
There is certainly every reason to believe it will work in a similar fashion
around moveable aviation appendages.
Jack Hilditch
_____
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jeff B
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 1:52 PM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Thank you, John Lawton.
Pete and all,
I finally found the time and the photos. You can see the process and end result
here:
http://www.europaowners.org/modules.php?set_albumName=Flap-Seals-Baby-Blue
<http://www.europaowners.org/modules.php?set_albumName=Flap-Seals-Baby-Blue&op=m
odload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php>
&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
Jeff - Baby Blue
285 hours
Pete Lawless wrote:
Jeff
That rather suggests that this 'gap seal' does not just block the gap with the
flaps up but improves the airflow over the flap though the gap when the flaps
are down.
Is there a picture of it anywhere?
Regards
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jeff B
Sent: 07 May 2007 16:06
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Thank you, John Lawton.
Flaps down...
Jeff
Pete Lawless wrote:
<pete@lawless.info>
Jeff
Are you talking about landing flap up or flap down?
Regards
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of William Mills
Sent: 07 May 2007 08:10
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Thank you, John Lawton.
<mailto:william@wrmills.plus.com> <william@wrmills.plus.com>
Jeff,
Why does the tape need to be so wide, or does it just come in 2 1/4" widths?
If you get a chance, perhaps you could publish a photo.
Best wishes,
William
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rman" <mailto:topglock@cox.net> <topglock@cox.net>
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 3:51 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Thank you, John Lawton.
<topglock@cox.net>
Last year, I had the pleasure of flying into John's airstrip, in Tennessee
and visiting with him and his near finished bird, for a while. In our
conversation, John mentioned how sealing up the aircraft would clean up
the lines, resulting in better speeds. As John said, the glider guys do
it and it works. Well, while I had Baby Blue disassembled and was
cleaning her up for Sun-N-Fun (which she did not make, as she was still
ailing from the weak carb spring incident) I decided to add some gap seals
to the wing, to seal the flaps, upon retraction. What I used was a 2.25"
wide piece of .020" styrene, a product that I use, almost daily in my
sign/graphics business. I attached it to the wing using 1" hem tape (a
very strong, two sided tape, used to hem banners). Once the engine was
restored to normal operating condition, the results were immediate and
astounding. I haven't done a complete test, yet, but the results seems to
have yielded about 4-5 kph at cruise. It has also resulted in more float,
during landing, which I attribute to reduced stall speeds. I say reduced
stall speeds, because, by reducing my final approach from 65 kph to 60
kph, across the numbers, Baby Blue lands like she used to. I'll be doing
more extensive tests, as the weather settles. However, I am extremely
pleased with the initial results of the simple and inexpensive mod.
Thanks again, John for your suggestion...
Jeff - Baby Blue
284 hours
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