REFLECTOR:Lower Winglets

Gilles Gratton reflector@tvbf.org
Tue, 27 Jan 2004 17:26:25 -0500


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No kidding Chuck, it is a reality.  The ground is sometimes a lot closer
than we think.  After a many hours of flying the Velocity, I must have got
complacent and unwillingly returned to nonchalent landing techniques that I
acquired over many years of high wing aircraft flying. So I let one wing
drop during a crosswind landing and realized once on the ramp that I had
pick up a bit of turf and grass with my winglet (actually scooped up by the
lower part of the rudder). No damage but I could have easily ripped my
rudder right off.
This taught me two lessons. 1. Dont let the wing drop; a slight bank will
get that wingtip close to the ground in no time.
                                       2. Maybe I should not have extended
my rudder all the way to the bottom of the lower winglet.  That would have
protected it in case of a real
                                           wingtip groundstrike.  That may
be something to consider for those of you still building.
Cheers,  Gilles
  -----Original Message-----
  From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On Behalf
Of Chuck Jensen
  Sent: 27 janvier 2004 11:27
  To: 'reflector@tvbf.org'
  Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Lower Winglets


  Jack made a joke about training wheels on the winglets, well, I was
thinking maybe boogie wheels could be mounted on 'em.  I started out with
full dimension, which we will call X, lower winglets.  My left winglet is
now X-1/4".  Night landing, blowing snow and 12-15kt gusting crosswind.
Just at touchdown, the upwind wing yielded excellent, but not appreciated,
lift.  Apparently, I made a two point touchdown (left main and left
winglet), though it wasn't obvious at the time.  The CFII commented that
"that was interesting."  I assured him it was fun when you get to use all
the controls during a landing.

  During preflight the next day, I nonchalantly ran my hand along the bottom
of the winglet and thought it felt rough.  In looking, I could see the top
glass layer was "ground" down some.  So, the training wheel idea holds more
appeal than you might think.  While some have joked about it, I haven't
heard anyone else admit to unscheduled size reduction of the winglet but I
find it hard to believe other(s) haven't suffered the ignominy.  Any
volunteers?

  Chuck

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<DIV><SPAN class=3D844273421-27012004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>No=20
kidding Chuck, it is a reality.&nbsp; The ground is sometimes a lot =
closer than=20
we think.&nbsp;&nbsp;After a many hours of flying the Velocity, I must =
have got=20
complacent and unwillingly returned to nonchalent landing techniques =
that I=20
acquired over many years of high wing aircraft flying. So I let one wing =
drop=20
during a crosswind landing and realized once on the ramp that I had pick =
up a=20
bit of turf and grass with my winglet (actually scooped up by the lower =
part of=20
the rudder). No damage but I could have easily ripped my rudder right =
off.=20
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D844273421-27012004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>This&nbsp;taught me two lessons. 1. Dont let the wing drop; a =
slight bank=20
will get that wingtip close to the ground in no =
time.&nbsp;</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D844273421-27012004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
2. Maybe I should <U><STRONG>not</STRONG></U> have extended my rudder =
all the=20
way to the bottom of the lower winglet.&nbsp; That would have protected =
it in=20
case of a real&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D844273421-27012004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
wingtip groundstrike.&nbsp; That may be something to consider for those =
of you=20
still building.&nbsp;</FONT>&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D844273421-27012004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>Cheers,&nbsp; Gilles</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
  size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
reflector-admin@tvbf.org=20
  [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Chuck=20
  Jensen<BR><B>Sent:</B> 27 janvier 2004 11:27<BR><B>To:</B>=20
  'reflector@tvbf.org'<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: REFLECTOR:Lower=20
  Winglets<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><SPAN=20
  class=3D390050416-27012004>Jack made a joke about training wheels on =
the=20
  winglets, well, I was thinking maybe boogie wheels could be mounted on =

  'em.&nbsp; I started out with full dimension, which we will call X, =
lower=20
  winglets.&nbsp; My left winglet is now X-1/4".&nbsp; Night landing, =
blowing=20
  snow and 12-15kt gusting crosswind.&nbsp; Just at touchdown, the =
upwind wing=20
  yielded excellent, but not appreciated, lift.&nbsp; Apparently, I made =
a two=20
  point touchdown (left main and left winglet), though it wasn't obvious =
at the=20
  time.&nbsp; The CFII commented that "that was interesting."&nbsp; I =
assured=20
  him it was fun when you get to use all the controls during a=20
  landing.</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><SPAN=20
  class=3D390050416-27012004></SPAN></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><SPAN=20
  class=3D390050416-27012004>During preflight the next day, I =
nonchalantly ran my=20
  hand along the bottom of the winglet and thought it felt rough.&nbsp; =
In=20
  looking, I could see the top glass layer was "ground" down some.&nbsp; =
So, the=20
  training wheel idea holds more appeal than you might think.&nbsp; =
While some=20
  have joked about it, I haven't&nbsp;heard anyone else admit to =
unscheduled=20
  size reduction of the winglet but I find it hard to believe other(s) =
haven't=20
  suffered the ignominy.&nbsp; Any volunteers?</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><SPAN=20
  class=3D390050416-27012004></SPAN></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><SPAN=20
  =
class=3D390050416-27012004>Chuck</SPAN></SPAN></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY><=
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