REFLECTOR:Vortilons versus VG's - Battle of the "V's"

[Scott Baker]

After reading a few more posts on this subject, I thought I'd add a little
more about the factory's perspective ...
*  VG's - We are very pleased with the improvement in slow flight speeds and
handling with VG's.  This is more so on the Velocity Standard than the big
wing 173 and XL (where we are still toying to find the best combination of
spacing and VG layout to get optimum slow flight performance).
* VG's and Vortilons - Impromptu flight testing of aircraft with VG's and
Vortilons showed that there was no significant improvement versus VG's
without Vortilons.  Since we have a hard time keeping vortilons from
breaking when folks lean against them at the many air shows we attend
through the year - we decided to leave the vortilons off (it also makes it
easier to wipe the bugs from the leading edge of the wings).
* Important note: the factory's "deciding to leave them off" does not mean
that we are making this a "recommendation".  It just means we left them off.
* Another important note - there are many Velocity wings without lower
winglets.  The first factory XL demonstrator (N97XL ...the one featured on
the Velocity poster) was this way.  We have noticed an improvement in yaw
and roll control at slow speeds with lower winglets.  What I'm trying to say
is ...performance with vg's and vortilons will be different for different
wings - and that one person's decision to "go without" vortilons with a wing
with vg's and lower winglets might be different for another with a wing with
vg's and without lower winglets.  Dang, that sounds confusing.  But I think
you know what I mean.
* Bottom line - (my advise) If you have vortilons, go ahead and put them on.
Scott B.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Baker" <sbakr@comcast.net>
To: <reflector@tvbf.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 5:52 PM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR:Trailing Edge Fences


> Hello Ronnie,
> I hope that no one at Velocity ever said that they recommended against
> installing vortilons.  The factory is flying the XL-5 demonstrator without
> vortilons - but that is because we have not "gotten around" to installing
> them.  The aircraft will fly better at low speeds with vortilons - so I
> would say, put them on.
> Scott B.