Why don't wings have dimples?

In article . com,
"Dancing Fingers" wrote:

Hi all,
I always wanted to build my own airplane but the time and money has
eluded me. So I've decided to design and build my own recumbent trike,
with farings. This brings me to my question, if golf balls have
dimples, to help them sail further, why don't wings -- especially for
STOL aircraft? Would putting dimples in my faring reduce my wind
resistance?
Just curious.
Chris

First of all, golf balls have dimples because in order to create lift
they need to influence the air passing by them with the golf ball's
spin. The dimples help to make the air slow down beneath the ball and
speed up above it; creating downward flow.

Wings produce that downward flow with their shape.

("Alan Baker" wrote)
First of all, golf balls have dimples because in order to create lift they
need to influence the air passing by them with the golf ball's spin. The
dimples help to make the air slow down beneath the ball and speed up above
it; creating downward flow.

Wings produce that downward flow with their shape.


How about a dimpled spinner?

Your choice - slice or draw.


Montblack

"Alan Baker" wrote in message
...
In article . com,
"Dancing Fingers" wrote:

Hi all,
I always wanted to build my own airplane but the time and money has
eluded me. So I've decided to design and build my own recumbent trike,
with farings. This brings me to my question, if golf balls have
dimples, to help them sail further, why don't wings -- especially for
STOL aircraft? Would putting dimples in my faring reduce my wind
resistance?
Just curious.
Chris

First of all, golf balls have dimples because in order to create lift
they need to influence the air passing by them with the golf ball's
spin. The dimples help to make the air slow down beneath the ball and
speed up above it; creating downward flow.

I believe that you have the effect exactly backward. The spin, which should
only be significant using the more steeply pitched irons; slows the relative
speed over the "top" of the ball and causes it to remain attached longer,
while the air flowing under the bottom breaks away more quickly, which would
result in a slight net lift. It also explains why a "slice" curves as it
does--which is why a smooth ball would have improved my game. :-(

Wings produce that downward flow with their shape.

Exactly.

Peter

In article ,
"Peter Dohm" wrote:

"Alan Baker" wrote in message
...
In article . com,
"Dancing Fingers" wrote:

Hi all,
I always wanted to build my own airplane but the time and money has
eluded me. So I've decided to design and build my own recumbent trike,
with farings. This brings me to my question, if golf balls have
dimples, to help them sail further, why don't wings -- especially for
STOL aircraft? Would putting dimples in my faring reduce my wind
resistance?
Just curious.
Chris

First of all, golf balls have dimples because in order to create lift
they need to influence the air passing by them with the golf ball's
spin. The dimples help to make the air slow down beneath the ball and
speed up above it; creating downward flow.

I believe that you have the effect exactly backward. The spin, which should
only be significant using the more steeply pitched irons; slows the relative
speed over the "top" of the ball and causes it to remain attached longer,

No. It doesn't. Golf balls spin with a rotation such that the bottom is
moving forward and the top is moving rearward.

while the air flowing under the bottom breaks away more quickly, which would
result in a slight net lift. It also explains why a "slice" curves as it
does--which is why a smooth ball would have improved my game. :-(

Wings produce that downward flow with their shape.

Exactly.

Peter

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 05:20:31 GMT, Alan Baker wrote:

I believe that you have the effect exactly backward. The spin, which should
only be significant using the more steeply pitched irons; slows the relative
speed over the "top" of the ball and causes it to remain attached longer,

No. It doesn't. Golf balls spin with a rotation such that the bottom is
moving forward and the top is moving rearward.

Not the way I play... :-)

Ron Wanttaja

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 05:20:31 GMT, Alan Baker wrote:

I believe that you have the effect exactly backward. The spin, which
should
only be significant using the more steeply pitched irons; slows the
relative
speed over the "top" of the ball and causes it to remain attached
longer,

No. It doesn't. Golf balls spin with a rotation such that the bottom is
moving forward and the top is moving rearward.

Not the way I play... :-)

Ron Wanttaja

Wait. That was my line!

Peter

Peter Dohm wrote:

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
...

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 05:20:31 GMT, Alan Baker wrote:


I believe that you have the effect exactly backward. The spin, which

should

only be significant using the more steeply pitched irons; slows the

relative

speed over the "top" of the ball and causes it to remain attached

longer,

No. It doesn't. Golf balls spin with a rotation such that the bottom is
moving forward and the top is moving rearward.

Not the way I play... :-)

Ron Wanttaja


Wait. That was my line!

Peter


Oh well. The net effect is the same...