Tony & Greg...I can't resist chiming in here...I'm delighted to see
Tony's innovative approach to installing these wing root fairings so
that they can be detachable in a way which would address the question as
to whether or not any in-flight efficiencies are gained w/ their
use...if I'd had more of my wits about me, I would have, and perhaps
should have, done so on my ship...Fred
On Feb 19, 2014, at 11:26 AM, Greg Fuchs wrote:
> Hi Tony,
>
> I have been thinking about how to implement Fred's Wing Fairing
sometime later. In interest of data-gathering (for me), it would need to
be removable to allow for testing flight characteristics of the aircraft
in multiple configurations, including the original fairing (also for
backward compatibility for the other wings available). That would be a
good way to see how it performs. Because of this, it seems that keeping
it whole (no cutting) might be the best course of action. It's nice to
know that someone else is considering the same. If you fly before me,
you would have the best information available about how the un-chopped
fairing will affect flight performance. :-) I am no aerodynamicist,
but do agree with your interpretation below. Any effects of the fairing
hanging in the breeze with the flaps deployed can be tested carefully at
altitude. Otherwise, it has been tested by a number of others in the
flaps-up position and is intended to be less draggy in that state.
>
> I don't think (and this is pure conjecture) the exposed surface
area is large enough to do anything in the negative way, especially
since its in competition with a very large flap that is doing most of
the wind directing.
>
> BTW: I look forward to obtaining fairing attachment ideas (i.e.
nutplates?) from you after you've had time to percolate the project.
>
> Regards,
> Greg
>
> From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Tony
Renshaw
> Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2014 1:31 AM
> To: europa-list@matronics.com; davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: FK fairings...............input requested.
>
> Thanks David,
>
> We=92ll see how these FK fairings work out. I am not sure how the
Spitfire flap articulates, but I suspect it will be the same as these
fairings i.e. the flap retracts into the fairing such that it creates a
small clamshell at the root end of the flap when it is extended. The
drag I mention is with them deployed, and in combination with the lift
created from the flap outboard of this shadowed part, would mean that
the flap would have a lesser impact than a completely clean flap, but
not by much. Any increase in drag is better at the root of the wing, so
if lift is killed here, it shouldn=92t matter that much. Thats my view
sofar, and I have made them removable so that if I am not happy with
the collective wisdom to strap them on for the first flight, I won=92t.
I can fly it clean to start with, which would be the wisest and then
extend the flaps and check out the flight characteristics at altitude.
Like I said, I don=92t expect anything untoward, but I don=92t actually
know so am keen for the input.
> Also, I have extended my wing closeouts so I don=92t have any gap more
than 3 mm between the side of the fuse and the wings, without fairings.
So, if I don=92t like the flight characteristics of these fairings I can
remove them, on the airfield, and go fly without any fairings aft of the
spar on the top of the wing. It looks good the way it is without
fairings, and if it wasn=92t for the fact that there is interference
drag in that area, what I have underneath the fairing is gross overkill
for a good outcome. Don=92t ask me why I did it, to cover it up with a
fairing, but hey, you get carried away from time to time, or I do.
> Regards
> Tony Renshaw
>
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