Thread: Flap Settings
View Single Post
  #3  
Old July 11th 07, 05:01 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Rick Culbertson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 46
Default Flap Settings

2 cents, I've personally noticed generally good performance in my 20B
when I "float" the flaps while driving. The 20 seems to be fairly well
suited for this proceedure as other ships may not be for a variety of
reasons as noted in one of the posts.

RC-21


On Jul 10, 9:49 am, "Ken Kochanski (KK)"
wrote:
I understand, a wing will perform optimally when the flap is set at
the proper angle for the airspeed ... any mismatch of flap to airspeed
will result in some performance losses vs. the correct setting. Of
course, we have a couple of compromises here ... the flaps are set at
fixed increments and the airspeed varies continuously ... so by
design, you will rarely have the flap and airspeed matched up
perfectly.

I remember seeing a story where one of the German schools modified an
LS-3 with springs, etc. so it automatically put in the correct amount
of flap for the airspeed ... did this result in a measurable
improvement?

Along the same lines, I have heard some pilots say they put the flap
in a position where they feel no pressure ... does this work?

I myself tend to go negative quicker or maintain a negative setting
longer ... then pulling in positive flap ... thinking being too
positive is more costly then too negative ... is this valid?

KK