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. The ground is sometimes a lot =
closer than=20
we think. 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 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. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D844273421-27012004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=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. That would have protected =
it in=20
case of a real </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D844273421-27012004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
wingtip groundstrike. That may be something to consider for those =
of you=20
still building. </FONT> </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D844273421-27012004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Cheers, 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. I started out with full dimension, which we will call X, =
lower=20
winglets. My left winglet is now X-1/4". Night landing, =
blowing=20
snow and 12-15kt gusting crosswind. Just at touchdown, the =
upwind wing=20
yielded excellent, but not appreciated, lift. Apparently, I made =
a two=20
point touchdown (left main and left winglet), though it wasn't obvious =
at the=20
time. The CFII commented that "that was interesting." 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> </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. =
In=20
looking, I could see the top glass layer was "ground" down some. =
So, the=20
training wheel idea holds more appeal than you might think. =
While some=20
have joked about it, I haven't 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. Any volunteers?</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><SPAN=20
class=3D390050416-27012004></SPAN></SPAN> </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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