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Wing root gap seal on FS I

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Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:36 am Post subject: Wing root gap seal on FS I

Folding/unfolding the wings on the FS I for every flight is not a big deal since I've built a tail dolly that precludes the need to fold/unfold the tail. But, the wing root gap seal is a bit of a PITA, especially the aft part. 



My question is this:



How important is the aft half of the upper airfoil gap seal? My thought is to cut the gap seal at about the half way point and eliminate the back/aft part but would like to hear your thoughts on the subject before doing so.



Keep in mind that my FS I has the canister BRS sticking up high in front of the engine which probably disturbs the airflow big time in that area anyway.

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Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

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Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:42 am Post subject: Re: Wing root gap seal on FS I

Oops! I should have posted a photo of the area I'm talking about. In the attached photo, I'm thinking of cutting the gap seal cross wise about where the rear most part of the BRS mount is located, and not use the part aft of that area, leaving it open.

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Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

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olendorf

Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 140
Location: Schenectady, NY USA

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:11 am Post subject: Re: Wing root gap seal on FS I

My cover ends at the front of the engine.  I have no problems. Maybe it would lower my stall speed a little if it came back farther but I'm happy with it.

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Scott Olendorf
Original Firestar, Rotax 447, Powerfin prop
Schenectady, NY
http://sites.google.com/site/kolbfirestar/

ElleryWeld(at)aol.com
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:17 am Post subject: Wing root gap seal on FS I

That's just what I did to my gap seal on my Original firestar it didn't change the flying characteristics at all 

 

 Ellery in Maine  N447EB

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Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: Re: Wing root gap seal on FS I

Thanks, guys. That is what I figured. Mine will be shortened soon.

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Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

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jb92563

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 314
Location: Southern California

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:55 am Post subject: Re: Wing root gap seal on FS I

Is there also a bottom gap seal?



The low pressure air on the top of the wing will be trying to draw the lower wing side high pressure air up to the top side....if you prevent that by either a top or bottom seal, I dont think the overall lift of the wing will be altered much.



If you allow an air path from the underside to the top of the wing at the root I imagine you will get slightly reduced wing lift plus vortices and turbulence right in front of your prop. 



I know of at least one designed ultralight that advised its owners to NEVER fly without the wing gap in place...so perhaps there IS a significant effect involved if you modify yours.



Have no idea what that will do to the control feel on the tail or the turbulence at the prop, but let us know if it has any noticable effect at all.....your going to be a Test Pilot!



My 2 cents,



Ray

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Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Wing root gap seal on FS I

Ray,



I don't know about others, but the lower camber of the wing over the cage is wide open and air enters over the full enclosure windshield, below the leading edge of the gap seal and escapes wherever it can, which is currently below the wings just above the cage, if that is a low pressure area. If anything, I would think that opening up the top aft half of the wing there, will allow better airflow through that area.

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Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

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ElleryWeld(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:42 pm Post subject: Wing root gap seal on FS I

I fly my firestar without a gap seal on real hot days it really dont make much difference  on how it flys 

 

   Ellery  N447EB

 

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jb92563

Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 314
Location: Southern California

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:25 am Post subject: Re: Wing root gap seal on FS I

Well there we have it, someone who has tried it says it makes no difference.....thats a good thing!



I expect the extra cooling airflow around the engine can't hurt anything either.



Nothing better than real world testing to give confidence to forge ahead.



Without this forum and all its wonderfull contributers we would all be test pilots much more often.



Ray

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