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Jim Mantyla
 Post subject: Re: Winglets
PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:21 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 227
Location: Barrie, Ontario,Canada
Guys,

I added VG's to my Thorp and it changed the stall characteristics quite a bit.( kind of just mushes) I have a row on each outer panel. I find I have great aileron controll at low speeds. I also added them on the vertical tail and it is like the tail is 6 inches taller. No more dancing on roll out when landing. I don't feel I lost anything on the top end with respect to speed.

Jim


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Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Winglets
PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:33 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
Pics would be good .

RB O0


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Jim Mantyla
 Post subject: Re: Winglets
PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:50 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 227
Location: Barrie, Ontario,Canada
Rich,

Here is the only picture I have at the moment.


Attachments:
2011-06-14 19.04.11.jpg
2011-06-14 19.04.11.jpg [ 1.47 MiB | Viewed 4538 times ]
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majurpain
 Post subject: Re: Winglets
PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:15 pm 
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Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 12:25 pm
Posts: 44
Location: U42 Salt Lake City, utah
Interesting, Jim!
Much reduction in stall speed with that? Also, how did you determine a template or is there a kit out for the Thorp?


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Jim Mantyla
 Post subject: Re: Winglets
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 8:24 am 
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Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 227
Location: Barrie, Ontario,Canada
The VG's I used are the Stolspeed ones from Austrailia. They come with a template and instructions. I painted mine by stapling masking tape upside down on a board and sticking them on the tape. They are smaller than the ones you would typically see fitted to a Cessna product via STC. They are installed with 3M double sided tape, so if you wish, they can be removed without buggering up the paint.

I think they only lowered the stall a couple of knots but the big difference is in how it stalls. The stall is not as abrupt. Also I have full aileron control at low speeds just prior to touch down. The ones on the tail were quite noticable as well. Last year I only got 18 hours in and 28 the year before, so they help to take some of the bite out of the plane when I'm not as proficient as I was in years past.

Jim


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SHIPCHIEF
 Post subject: Re: Winglets
PostPosted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:33 am 
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Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:05 pm
Posts: 471
Location: USA
Jim,
Thanks for posting. I added only 2 home made Hall Type VGs on each wing and got the aeleron improvement you cited, although I didn't get a reduction in stall speed, as one would expect.
I posted pictures in the thread about N883FF flies after 9 year rest.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7037&start=15
Scroll to the bottom for the VG pic.
I am particularly interested in your results on the vertical stab. "FEISTY" actually tracks very well on landing until it slows to about 45, then it gets snakey. It peaks and then gets better and is fairly tame about 20 MPH. If VGs would bring the onset of Snake-ism down a few MPH, well that would be nice.

_________________
Scott Emery
EAA Chapter 326
T-18 N18TE


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Jim Mantyla
 Post subject: Re: Winglets
PostPosted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:51 am 
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Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 227
Location: Barrie, Ontario,Canada
Scott,

I will take a picture this weekend of the tail VG's and post it.

Best regards,

Jim


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