REFLECTOR: Trailing Edge Aileron Fence and door open emergenc
y procedures
Chuck Jensen
reflector@tvbf.org
Mon, 28 Jul 2003 08:47:55 -0400
Rodney,
Thanks for the pics. Picture "TEFence2" certainly looks like it is toed-in
toward the fuselage, but I guess that's just because of the wing sweep? In
other words, the fence is positioned parallel to the fuselage, which, of
course, is directly into the air flow?
On a personal basis, I just got my medical back last fall from a go-round
with leukemia. I was diagnosed in mid-99 and did a bone marrow transplant
in early 2000. Fortunately, I had a brother that was a pretty good match.
It was a slow, grueling climb back up and I can appreciate the low energy,
anemia routine you're going through. Because of the damnable steroids (the
reverse of the anabolic steroids used for muscle building) used to suppress
the immune system, I lost a total of 50 pounds and every muscle in my body
was spaghetti. To even step up on a curb, I had to do advance planning and
come at it at an angle. Any flight of stairs greater than 2 steps, even
with a hand rail, was out of the question.
The whole process is so debilitating that its a little hard to comprehend
how ordinary tasks turn into a major undertakings. The upside is, if we have
to go through something like this, now is a great time. There so many great
diagnostic tools and treatments that didn't exist even 10 years ago. I
certainly don't have any sage advise other than just keep grinding and
plugging. And remember, she's waiting there to go flying again.
Thanks again for the info.
Chuck
-----Original Message-----
From: Rodney Brim [mailto:rbrim@managepro.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2003 11:33 PM
To: reflector@tvbf.org
Cc: 'Jim Agnew'; Chuck Jensen; 'Wayne Owens'; 'Tony Babb'; 'Greg Poole';
'Dennis Martin'; 'Jeffrey Clough'
Subject: RE: REFLECTOR: Trailing Edge Aileron Fence and door open
emergency procedures
Hi,
Sorry I'm a month late in responding. Am fighting cancer and low energy and
don't get to the plane much to measure or take pictures. But I recently did
and here they are. I also looked up my original research. The take-off
roll was reduced by over 20% not 15%. Actually at the time I measured it,
it was roughly 22%.
Before I do the numbers and picture story I want to suggest you all add a
comment to your emergency procedures.
1. If the door pops open fully, DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE OPEN DOOR.
If you, like I, ever have that experience. You will start a rapid roll away
from the door to an inverted position. For me the door opened slightly as I
departed... with the gear coming up it pressurized the cabin and pops the
door wide open, and then if you turn away from the door (to head back to the
airport) it wants to roll and spin into the ground, in my case at about 200
feet. Opposite rudder and aileron will hold you at a 60 degree bank angle,
but won't get you out of the fix as you're going to stall in that
configuration. There is a way out, but that's another conversation. OK
back to trailing edge fence.
I've attached a couple of pictures. They are located on the inboard side of
the ailerons. They point directly into the wind. If you are testing, you
can cut them out of plexiglass clipboards and hot glue them in place. I did
for all of my testing. I also wrote this up in an article in Velocity Views
a couple of years ago.
Specs:
1. Position. They are located on the inside of the aileron, but face
directly into the wind, not the angle of the aileron.
2. They extend back from the trailing edge 1.5 inches, and 5 inches above
the trailing edge and 2.5 inches below.
3. From that position the top and bottom dive into the wing. The length of
the top (from wing to end of trailing edge) is 12 inches. The bottom is 9
inches, but note that's because the trailing edge of the stall fence is not
perpendicular to the ground. Instead of dropping at a 90 degree angle at
the top (which may be a preferable design), I slopped mine forward at a 70
degree angle.
|---- 12 "------------------ 70
-
-
-
|--- 9" ----------|
That's roughly the shape in a text format, except the bottom slopes up to
meet the underside of the wing and the top slopes down to meet the top. But
both of those may be better served by having a longer run into the wing.
Klaus was the one who helped me with this and it wasn't a value at the time.
Hope that helps. Fly safe.
Rodney Brim,
-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On
Behalf Of Rene Dugas
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 3:24 PM
To: reflector@tvbf.org
Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Aileron Fence
I would be interested in dimensions and locations of fences.
Thanks,
Rene'
XL RG
rdugas@bayou.com
-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Rodney Brim
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 9:12 PM
To: reflector@tvbf.org
Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Aileron Fence
Hi Chuck,
1. I got a >15% reduction in take-off roll on my final version of the
fences. Looks like that is attributable to driving the air more
directly
over the wing at slower speeds and not having it slide down the wing,
which
if you do some dirty oil tests you will see that it is doing.
2. It doesn't effect your stall, that's all governed by the canard.
3. It feels like it reduces roll rate slightly. I didn't measure it,
but
you can tell the plane has more tail feathers, especially as you move
the
fences out along the wing, which I would not suggest. To me it makes
the
plane feel more stable.
4. Reduction in cruise speed is dependent upon height of the fences and
location. At the location and height I have them, I have no reduction
in
cruise speed.
5. I think they should be standard on the kit... but then what do I
know. I
think everyone should move to forward hinging doors;)
Rodney Brim,
PS I have a picture and dimensions if you want them. They probably
helped
save my neck as I had an ugly door pop, going inverted stall at 200 feet
coming off a runway a couple of years ago... sometimes you can use all
the
stability and directional control you can get your hands on.
-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On
Behalf Of Chuck Jensen
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 7:30 AM
To: 'reflector@tvbf.org'
Subject: REFLECTOR:Aileron Fence
>From the Newsletter, some preliminary flight testing seemed to show
than an
inboard aileron fence had merit for reducing takeoff distance,
increasing
climb rate and perhaps reducing stall speed while not affecting cruise
performance and turning characteristics. Has this become a concensus or
is
the jury still out? And, is there a standard template for such a fence?
Chuck Jensen
XL RG
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