No one has said anything about the XS cowl. I would bet that is where
the most improvement in drag reduction could be made. Besides having
rather poor cooling characteristics, I believe it has rather bad
aerodynamics. For example;
1) After very carefully fairing our monowheel in, we found no
improvement in cruise speed. We suspect because the lower cowl is
messing up the air so badly in front of the main gear (mono-wheel).
2) In a recent magazine article on a mono-wheeled motor glider, they
said they measured no difference in glide ratio, gear-up vs gear-down,
again, I suspect because the lower cowl is producing copious amounts of
turbulence in front of the gear.
Just my $.02,
Terry Seaver
A135 / N135TD
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Duncan
McFadyean
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Hey Guys...
--> <ami@mcfadyean.freeserve.co.uk>
I found a 9+ mph speed increase from fitting spats to 500x5 wheels on my
TD.
I got a further 10 mph from leg fairings, but in this instance you have
to bear in mind that the rectangular section gearleg provides about 50
sq. ins of flat plate area; whereas the tri-gear legs present an
elliptical section to the relative airflow.
Further, the low point of application of undercarriage drag means that
an equal and opposite moment has to be provided by the tailplane,
creating more trim drag. So the effect of the fairings was a win-win
benefit.
Have not found anything like as much gain in any other single area of
drag reduction.
Duncan McF.
----- Original Message -----
From: <BEBERRY@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Hey Guys...
>
>
> Speed Kit,
>
>
> Still no answers! I am fitting my speed kit to my Tri Gear and still
> hoped
> that someone would tell me if I am doing this to gain extra
> performance/better fuel figures , or am I just doing a cosmetic job?
>
> Any more comments?. The correspondence has been interesting and I
> suppose
> that we shall only get subjective points of view on many aspects of
the
> aeroplane but the question of whether a speed kit is effective,
> performance wise,
> should be relatively easy to answer - or do I have to wait until I
can
> get
> airborne again.?
>
> Please !!!
>
> Patrick
>
>
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