Bob Kuykendall wrote:

On another branch of this thread, Eric observes that one reason that
flaps are an issue is that there are so few two-seaters with 90-degree
flaps. I agree; this is one of the primary reasons that the next HP
kit will not be developed with 90-degree flaps. If anybody really
wants one, I can set the wings up for it, but the primary
configuration will have airbrakes. Personally, I really do prefer the
flaps over airbrakes. However, I do not have the resources to
prosecute an ideological battle on their behalf. If anybody wants to
know the depth to which I've sold out in pursuit of a successful
career as a sailplane developer, feel free to let this be the measure
of it.

Are there engineering or manufacturing issues that make spoilers a more
desirable choice these days? For example, a fiberglass wing might be
more flexible than a metal one, which would make a 90 degree flap harder
to implement. The early ASW 20 had problems this way with it's 60 degree
flap setting.

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA