High wing to low wing converts...or, visa versa?

xyzzy wrote:
There are so many other factors involved, even though this probably is
somewhat true, it's impossible demonstrate - can you really tell when
the
induced drag lowers by a couple of % (the diff between a high-wing and
low-wing). Also, nitpicking, but since ground effect causes a nose down
pitching moment, you could argue it tends to 'harden' the landing.

Good point. My experiences are c172 and warrior. I just know that I
float more in the Warrior, and that it's much easier to land smoother in
the Warrior. I think low-wing definitely explains the float, but the
smoother landing could very well be the inflated struts landing gear of
the warrior vs. the stiffer legs on the 172. The highwing/lowwing
probably is a smaller factor than that.

Since I don't have usable performance numbers, what follows is speculation
on my part: I think the apparent added float occurs for two reasons:

1. Pilots fly the POH approach speed which is for the plane at gross. But
when landing, they're lighter, so need to fly slower.

2. Pipers have completely different flaps to Cessnas. Cessnas have the
barn door flaps, so that by itself probably does cause less float.

I think the only way to do this experiment properly would be to move the
wings on a specific plane, but the FBO might not like it.

Hilton

Hilton wrote:

I think the only way to do this experiment properly would be to move the
wings on a specific plane, but the FBO might not like it.

Yeah, FBOs don't have much of a sense of humor about that kind of stuff,
do they?