wing tape

On Tuesday, April 29, 2014 3:47:13 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
Where and what product is the best white wing tape to be bought?

Once upon a time in a land far away, a pilot chose to use the cheapest tape he
could find on his wing roots. It happened to be 3/4 inch black electrical
cheeeeap tape. Off he went, out and about heavenward. Somewhere hours later on
course, he happened to look at the wingroot. . . . and saw this significant gap
between root and wingskin.

After the startle, the thinking, the realization that his wings were really ON,
and the tape span was not really a gap, he flew home with much thanks for
saving those extra $2 per roll.
He then chose to buy the tape in COLORS, for about $.67 per roll.

For his retirement party, a couple years later, we presented him with about
two dozen rolls of pink, lavender, sky blue, grass green and lemon yellow
CHEEEEPP tape. It can be found in electrical supply stores for labeling
different wiring schemes.
None of us cared about reusability, tape residue or stretch and formabiity.

We only cared about the decorative effect.

With affection,

Cindy B

On Tuesday, April 29, 2014 5:47:13 AM UTC-5, Colin Roney wrote:
Where and what product is the best white wing tape to be bought?

I have always liked Scotch 3m white electrician's tape. Just recently purchased two rolls (3/4" x 66 ft.) for $3.92 each at Home Depot.

"This stuff must be really good! If you look under "Product Features," fourth bullet point down it says: "Nuclear power plant construction and maintenance."

Yeah, I've actually read the product spec sheet on 3M's website with some degree of amusement trying to find out what this tape was originally intended for!

Is it possible or practicable to use relective wing tape?
Some time ago conspuity tests determined that a reflective surface on a
glider was more visible than a plain colour such as red or black. So maybe
it could serve a dual purpose.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2014 6:47:13 AM UTC-4, Colin Roney wrote:
Where and what product is the best white wing tape to be bought?

Ask Dan Johnson what kind of tape he uses:

http://www.aviationbanter.com/showthread.php?t=80887

That's the stuff you want.

:-)

Evan Ludeman

On Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 11:47:13 AM UTC+1, Colin Roney wrote:
Where and what product is the best white wing tape to be bought?

I've travelled back through time from 2020, my wings didn't fall off or get flies in them and I didn't stall and this thread is just as amusing as it was thank you so much.

I've been using the wing tape sold by Craggy, but I'm not happy with it. It's very stretchy, which is good, but it sinks into the gaps that it's covering, which sort of defeats the purpose. Do the Bowlus or 3M tapes sink into the gap?

I've used 3M white electrical tape when I was flying a single seater.Â*
It worked very well but, if left on for a long time (my ship was
hangared), it leaves a gummy residue when removed.Â* That's easy enough
to clean up with acetone or tape residue remover.

On 8/8/2020 11:04 PM, Ben Hirashima wrote:
I've been using the wing tape sold by Craggy, but I'm not happy with it. It's very stretchy, which is good, but it sinks into the gaps that it's covering, which sort of defeats the purpose. Do the Bowlus or 3M tapes sink into the gap?

--
Dan, 5J

Ben,

About your comment that, "...but it sinks into the gaps that it's covering, which sort of defeats the purpose." Why do you feel that the tape sinking into the gap between the wing root and the fuselage is something to be avoided?

To me the main purpose of wing tape is to seal the gap against air intrusion, not necessarily to continue the wing's airfoil without deformation. It seems that all wing tape "sinks" to one extent or another.

My $0.02.

On Sunday, August 9, 2020 at 8:17:11 AM UTC-7, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
Ben,

About your comment that, "...but it sinks into the gaps that it's covering, which sort of defeats the purpose." Why do you feel that the tape sinking into the gap between the wing root and the fuselage is something to be avoided?

To me the main purpose of wing tape is to seal the gap against air intrusion, not necessarily to continue the wing's airfoil without deformation. It seems that all wing tape "sinks" to one extent or another.

My $0.02.

If the main purpose of wing tape is to seal against air intrusion, that problem could be better solved with a simple rubber gasket where the wing joins the fuselage.

It's just common sense that you would not want any departures from a smooth surface at the wing root. If you want to claim that it doesn't make a difference aerodynamically, then show me the data.