REFLECTOR: Gap Seals, fences, zig-zag tape

[Stockman, Bill]

I have flow with the fences now for almost four years and they make a
significant difference.  I experimented with one, two and three on each
side and ended up with one on each side of the ailerons.  They improve
ailerons effectiveness and climb rate.

 

Bill Stockman

Senior Associate

Dayton Aerospace, Inc.

 

937.426.4300 W

937.369.4799 C

bill.stockman at daytonaero.com

 

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Douglas Holub
Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 12:22 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Gap Seals, fences, zig-zag tape

 

Sounds like a good idea, Al. Have you got a picture?

 

Doug Holub

	----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Al Gietzen <mailto:ALVentures at cox.net>  

	To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
<mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>  

	Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 11:57 AM

	Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Gap Seals, fences, zig-zag tape

	 

	 

	Anybody flying with aileron gap seals?  Notice a great
improvement in

	climb and responsiveness?

	 

	Scott;

	I have flown with the gap seal on, off, on again; and find no
detectable difference.  I suppose it depends on whether there is much of
a gap in the first place.

	 

	He's using the zig-zag tap in front of the rudders and says it
more than

	doubled the effectiveness of them at low speeds.  No noticeable

	reduction in cruise.   Said he saw them on Klaus S. EZ.

	 

	Double the effectiveness sounds like too big a change to be
true.  OTOH; I have never really felt that I had a lack of rudder
response - but I guess I've managed to avoid landing in strong cross
winds.

	 

	He also said the trailing edge fences were a dramatic
improvement with

	no cruise speed penalty.

	 

	I have a fence on the in-board end of the aileron.  I can't tell
you how much difference it makes because I put them on before ever
flying.  I had seen enough tuff-test info on EZs, and observed oil drop
tracks on Velocity, to know there is span-wise flow under flow
separation at high angles of attack. A fence could only help, and give
better aileron authority at low speeds.

	 

	Al

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