mocfly Posted August 10, 2013 Report Share Posted August 10, 2013 Anybody have any thoughts on this subject? I wonder how much benefit you could see? Wouldn't it be nice to get the same airspeed at much lower power setting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josjonkers Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Quick hit is to tape the wings. Doubt the rest really matters except for airflow in the cockpit. Do not expect much gain however.... You are NOT a glider, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runtoeat Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Interesting to note my CTSW has the factory mylar tape on the underside of the stabilator to close the elevator/trim gap. This is a very stiff piece of mylar that runs the width of the stabilator and closes off the gap. Half of the mylar is sticky and this anchors it to the elevator. The non sticky half rides on the trim tab and just allows the trim tab to slide past it as the tab moves. Perhaps something like this for the ailerons on those with ELSA as an experiment? This part was installed from the factory in 2006 and is still in good shape. The adhesive used on this tape, whatever it may be, impresses me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Be very, very, careful if you experiment with sealing the ailerons. The way the aileron and cove are shaped they may be designed to have some airflow between them. Blocking this off could make the airplane un-controlable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runtoeat Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Tom, good advice. The other issue in doing this sort of thing is there is the possibility that a tape might loosen and interfere with or jam a control surface. Flight Design has really done a good job with their engineering and design to make the CT an efficient machine. It would seem that there probably were many hours spent in the wind tunnel finding the best configuration for optimization of the control surfaces (and associated gaps). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandpiper Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Tom, good advice. The other issue in doing this sort of thing is there is the possibility that a tape might loosen and interfere with or jam a control surface. Flight Design has really done a good job with their engineering and design to make the CT an efficient machine. It would seem that there probably were many hours spent in the wind tunnel finding the best configuration for optimization of the control surfaces (and associated gaps). If they did that good of a job in the wind tunnel, why do the SW's have stick bump? Do the LS's also have that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mocfly Posted August 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 The other thing is that the LS has a fin between the flaps and the fuselage. That was a design improvement due to air flow issue at the intersection of the 2 surfaces. Per a person at FD who would be in a position to know that reason. The word is continuos improvement. However there isn't enough space in our SW's to allow for the addition of this fin. I wouldn't take it upon myself to become a test pilot. I was merely trying to query this most knowledgeable group of owners to see if this had ever been explored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Meade Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Be very, very, careful if you experiment with sealing the ailerons. The way the aileron and cove are shaped they may be designed to have some airflow between them. Blocking this off could make the airplane un-controlable. Correct me if I'm wrong, Tom, but when dealing with control surfaces is one required to use a certificated mechanic? As an example, I'm not sure the owner could spot paint a stabilator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runtoeat Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 John, my friend's CTLS does have stick bump eventhough his airplane has the dams which FD added to CTLS's at the wing root. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 My comment on taping the control surfaces comes not from the CT, but the Taylorcraft. It use a aileron set up like the CT where airflow is dirrected through the gap to aid in control effectiveness. When taped it does not work like it should. John, it was my understanding that the CTLS was the first to get changes from the wind tunnel testing. It does not have the stick bump like in the SW. Jim, touch up of paint on control sufaces is OK, unless it is a balanced surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runtoeat Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 I should have added the stick bump is much improved on my friend's 2008 CTLS over my CTSW but still noticeable on his CT. I have not flown any other CTLS's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Meade Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Jim, touch up of paint on control sufaces is OK, unless it is a balanced surface. Balanced surface. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Can somebody refresh my recollection about what the stick bump issue is? I remember reading about it a year or so back but don't remember what the exact issue is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 It has to do with the laminar airflow separating and re-attaching on the stabilator due to the way the air flows off the wing fuselage junction. You really don't notice it until you get into really smooooth air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Is it just a sort of gentle push back pulse from the stick? I think I had one of those a couple of days ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 When you get in smooth air you will know it when it happens, but it can be a little un-nerving at first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.