A couple of years back I was watching some local scale model glider
pilots flying (interesting winch launching mechanism) and noticed that
they used reflective tape on their leading edges. This was also
mentioned in the http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/Data/gl...uity-study.pdf
article.

I asked the scale model pilots about it and they said they often loose
their gliders, especially during overcast days, so they circle and
pick up the "flash" of the tape. The tape that they used is used for
reflective fishing lures. See http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/reflect...es/309100.aspx
for examples.

So I bought some of the tape and used wing tape to attach about 3' on
the leading edge near my wing tips. I communicated with Dick Johnson
about it and he expressed interest in the concept. Unfortunately,
life interfered and I never completed a reasonable study if I was more
visible or not. I plan on being in a contest in 2010 which might be a
good proving ground.

The question is would it affect the aerodynamics of the wing? If so
it might be a hard sell for competition pilots, which is a prime at-
risk group.

My $0.02.

- John DeRosa