Re: REFLECTOR: elevator cuffs

["Ronnie Brown" <rolandbrown@Sprintmail.com>]

I met Steve Korney at Oshkosh. He has a newly completed std wing, top door,
RG.  He removed his cuffs after having high rotation speeds and after
talking with Duane.  Duane suggested removing part of the cuff as Mark
suggested in your note.  Steve asked what would happen if all were removed,
they said it should improve low speed performance but  may affect the upper
speed performance.

Steve feels that removing the cuffs allows the elevator to act more like a
"fowler flap" in that the stalled air above the canard at low speeds is not
attached at the elevator.  With the cuff removed, he felt that air could
then move upwards in front of the elevator and allow for better elevator
control at low speeds.  He says he did not notice any difference at high
speeds (he is cruising at 200 mph with the MT and I/O 360.

I'll copy Steve - he is not now a reflector member (had only heard of the
canard user group - but not the Velocity reflector).  I will send him
instructions.

Ronnie Brown
Elite 173 RG (to arrive in a couple of weeks!)


----- Original Message -----
From: Schweitzer, Bill <bill.schweitzer@compaq.com>
To: 'Velocity Reflector' <reflector@awpi.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 1999 5:08 PM
Subject: REFLECTOR: elevator cuffs


> I had a chance to talk with Duane and Mark Machado at Oshkosh.  They told
me
> they are flying with shorter length elevator cuffs (or none).  The cuffs
> smooth out the canard stall and reduce the tendency for pitch-buck at
stall
> speed.  However, they also make it difficult to get any elevator effect at
> landing speed.
>
> Mark suggested making the cuff 18" shorter, removing the outboard end of
it.
> Since I had just spent a couple days installing them I was pleased as
punch
> :-) to get to take my grinder to them.  Anyone else thought about this?
>
> ---
> Another note: awhile back the factory sent me a refill order for fine bid.
> The material they got from their supplier was a heavier weight, "satin"
> weave that was very difficult to wet-out.  After using it for awhile I
asked
> them about it.  They sent me a replacement of the original material.  If
you
> got this stuff from them you may consider requesting the original.
>
> Bill Schweitzer
> std RGE
> San Jose, Ca
>