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"Speed" tape?



 
 
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  #11  
Old October 2nd 04, 06:25 PM
Maule Driver
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Sailplanes are taped and sealed all over. It has nothing to do with the
type of tape and everything to do with eliminating unintentional air
eakage - in or out.

It starts with the all the control surfaces. It's a given that no air
should leak through any hinge line. Practically all production racing
sailplanes have sealed control surfaces. Mylar strip, fabric, tape, metal
strips, etc. Some of it is quite elaborate. (Turbulator tape kind of
serves the opposite purpose -see blow hold turbulators)

Then every gap, seam, control rod exit, wing root, canopy edge and gear door
is sealed. The objective is to only have vent air entering thru a ram or
NACA vent and exhausting typically thru a hole near the bottom of the fin.
Though everyone is convinced of the value of sealing - few spend the time to
analyze the proper exhaust of vent air.

It's all pretty fanatical but it works from a racing perspective where a 1%
advantage is meaningful. Presume this ships all have experimental certs...

Thinking about all that and looking at my Maule gives me a headache!

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:5Uz6d.131331$MQ5.70054@attbi_s52...
At Reno, all the Formula One and Sport class racers had every single
non-aerodynamic gap covered with clear tape.

Which got me to thinking, there are LOTS of non-aerodynamic gaps on my
Pathfinder.

The stuff looks like basic, clear packing tape. Anyone used this stuff?

Is
there any benefit at all, or is it one of those "over 200 mph" things,

like
the spoiler on my Mustang?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"




  #12  
Old October 2nd 04, 07:00 PM
Roy Smith
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"Maule Driver" wrote:
Sailplanes are taped and sealed all over. It has nothing to do with the
type of tape and everything to do with eliminating unintentional air
eakage - in or out.

It starts with the all the control surfaces. It's a given that no air
should leak through any hinge line. Practically all production racing
sailplanes have sealed control surfaces.


Same with sailboats. The only movable underwater control surface on
most boats is the rudder. If it's mounted to the trailing edge of a
skeg (like the rudder is mounted to the vertical fin on an airplane),
the hinge gaps are often sealed with some kind of flexible fairing.

Similar techniques are used above the water, with the way sails are
attached to the headstay.

It's all pretty fanatical but it works from a racing perspective where a 1%
advantage is meaningful.


Same with sailboats :-)
  #13  
Old October 3rd 04, 03:09 AM
Maule Driver
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"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...
"Maule Driver" wrote:
Sailplanes are taped and sealed all over. It has nothing to do with the
type of tape and everything to do with eliminating unintentional air
eakage - in or out.

It starts with the all the control surfaces. It's a given that no air
should leak through any hinge line. Practically all production racing
sailplanes have sealed control surfaces.


Same with sailboats. The only movable underwater control surface on
most boats is the rudder. If it's mounted to the trailing edge of a
skeg (like the rudder is mounted to the vertical fin on an airplane),
the hinge gaps are often sealed with some kind of flexible fairing.

Similar techniques are used above the water, with the way sails are
attached to the headstay.

It's all pretty fanatical but it works from a racing perspective where a

1%
advantage is meaningful.


Same with sailboats :-)

No doubt. Turns out that the landmark book on sailplane racing, "Winning on
the Wind" was written by a guy who apparently took a lot of his approach
from sailing - George Moffat. Saving a few seconds here, a knot there, and
1% there, will win races when you put it all together. :-)


 




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