REFLECTOR: Removing Borrom Winglets

Scott Baker scottb33333 at gmail.com
Mon Aug 5 06:47:19 CDT 2013


Adding to John Abraham's comments about the lower winglets adding to 
directional stability during slow flight,
the Velocity company did some in-flight testing using a Velocity XL 
model to "get a feel" of how the aircraft behaved with and without lower 
winglets.
They found that lower winglets greatly helped with directional stability 
during approach and landing.
The testing involved re-sizing the winglets to determine the best size 
of the lower winglets.  It was determined that benefits were found when 
4" of winglet was exposed below the wing.
Definitely recommend the lower winglets for this flight control benefit; 
and also, as Scott D. said, to act as skid pads during crazy crosswind 
landings!
Scott B.

On 8/3/2013 10:08 AM, Brian Michalk wrote:
> I believe the consensus from the Reflector a few years ago was that 
> they were mostly aesthetic.
> Your best bet though, is to call the factory.
>
> On 08/03/2013 08:48 AM, jeff findarle wrote:
>> Hello all, The Velocity I purchased in March had a Taxi way Gear up, 
>> thus removing the bottom winglets. I have the wings off and am in the 
>> middle of reinforcing and smoothing out the unpleasing patch job some 
>> one made. My question is - Do the bottom winglets really do anything 
>> in the form of flying stability, control or lift? I see many Velocity 
>> pics that do not have them, some have small tiny winglets and it was 
>> suggested by one owner to have a small downward winglet to stop the 
>> air from sliding off the wingtip. I also quized a close friend of 
>> mine who has been flying for American for decades. Many Jets do not 
>> have down winglets. Some do however. He felt that the upper winglet 
>> should suffice to help in the air flow. I really like the look 
>> without a bottom winglet, so if I can keep it that way, all the 
>> better. Any response from anyone who had them, then ground them off? 
>> Suggestions?
>> TEAM JEFF,
>

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