REFLECTOR: Winglet Trailing edge trimming

[Andrew Ellzey]

Jack,

I am also building my wings and winglets. I had the same issue as you are talking about. Put your winglet back in the billet half that matches the inboard side of the winglet. Mark the lines on the billet half, the 28" mark will fall on the billet half and the 12" will fall on your winglet. Now mark the 1" foam trim line on your winglet per the manual. This line will fall entirely on your winglet. Sand your billet half to match the contour of the trailing edge where the line comes off the foam of the winglet. Line you billet half with plastic to make a mold half for your lay-up. Do your inboard lay-up per the manual leaving enough cloth for the entire size per the manual. When you put your winglet in your billet half it will form your trailing edge for the correct 28". After it cures you will trim the foam back the 1" on your winglet per manual, and this line will fall on the foam. The manual also doesn't tell you what to do with the top of the winglet, leave it squared off like it came out of the billet or round it off. I rounded mine off to a nice aerodynamic shape. If you have room to attach your wings to the spar when you are ready to attach your winglets, as the manual suggests, this is the best way to make sure your winglets and wings are completely matched. Make all of the cross check measurements the manual calls for. I used a water level at the wing tips to level both wings attached to the spar. I spent 2 full days getting everything just right, I'm hoping this will payoff in how my aircraft flies.

Happy building,

Andy
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jack Prock 
  To: reflector at tvbf.org 
  Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 4:36 PM
  Subject: REFLECTOR: Winglet Trailing edge trimming


  Hi,

  I am in the process of setting up the winglets for glassing. I am trying to trim
  the trailing edge according to the manual, but my winglets don't seem to match
  what the manual is saying. Or I am reading it incorrectly.

  The manual says to measure on the top of the winglet 12" and then on the bottom
  of the winglet 28" and draw a line. The problem is that my winglet taken directly 
  from the winglet foam billet does not reach 28".  I don't know what to do. Do I 
  draw a line to the 28" line that is approx. 3/4 of an inch behind trailing edge foam?

  Or am I measuring wrong. I am starting at the leading edge point, and measuring 
  across the bottom (the actual bottom...that would be facing the ground when
  the winglet is installed).  Does the manual mean to say to measure across the
  bottom of the inboard face of the winglet? This would add inches, since the curvature of the
  winglet would add to the distance. 

  Help

  Jack Prock


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