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Aileron gap seal

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williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:35 am Post subject: Aileron gap seal

I am about to do the aileron/wing gap seal on my original Firestar.  I intend to use 4" wide Stits tape in the "S" pattern.  Should I go from the top of the wing to the bottom of the aileron, or vice versa?  Is this part really necessary?  I have seen Kolbs without it.  I have also seen them done with bookbinding tape.  Also, what about the gap from the horizontal stabilizer to the elevator, and the vertical stabilizer to the rudder?  Comments?

  

                                               Bill Sullivan

                                               Windsor Locks, Ct.

                                               FS 447

 [quote][b]

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Dennis Thate

Joined: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 362

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Aileron gap seal

I too am looking into this ; Here is what I've found so far...hope other Kolbers will chime in !



"The purpose of a Gap Seal is to create a pressure barrier between the high pressure air on the bottom of the wing and the low pressure air on the top of the wing. The diagram shows how the air moves upward through the gaps, thus causing significant drag and reduced control authority.



Another benefit is that it smoothes the air traveling along the bottom of the wing, thus further improving airflow. The effects of a good Gap Seal kit will be: "

increased cruise speed

 improved rate of climb

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Richard Pike

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:55 am Post subject: Re: Aileron gap seal

I would go from the bottom of the wing to the top of the aileron in hopes that it might suck out some of the junk that will inevitably get caught in the crack. Aside from that, I can't think of a good reason why one way or the other would be better, but maybe somebody else can. 



I noticed an improvement in control authority when I gap sealed the elevator to the stab on the MKIII, didn't do the rudder. I used Office Depot premium packing tape for that, but first laid a strip of Scotch tape along the middle on the sticky side of the wide tape so that it wouldn't collect dirt. That was several years ago, still holding but due to be replaced.



Richard Pike

MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

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elleryweld(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject: Aileron gap seal

from the top of the wing to the bottom side of the aileron works best and no need to do the tail area 

   

 

  

     Ellery Batchelder Jr.

 

 

 

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Richard Pike

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: Aileron gap seal

 	  elleryweld(at)aol.com wrote: 	
		  from the top of the wing to the bottom side of the aileron works best and no need to do the tail area    

     Ellery Batchelder Jr.  

   -- 	




Ok, I'll assume that the Firestar doesn't have the problems with elevator authority that the MKIII does with 2 big'uns on board, and doesn't need an elevator/stabilizer gap seal, but why does the aileron gap seal work better from the top of the wing to the bottom of the ailerons? Not being contentious, just curious.



Richard Pike

MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

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elleryweld(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:06 pm Post subject: Aileron gap seal

its just easier to install that way so it wont cause the gap seal to get stretched tight during full deflection because the hinge point is closer to the bottom  then it is to the top I never had them on my firestar tail area and I never had them on my MK3C tail area but it is not written in stone you have to do it this way its just what worked best for me  

 

     Ellery Batchelder Jr.

 

 

 

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elleryweld(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:13 pm Post subject: Aileron gap seal

correction you don't have to do it this way 

 

     Ellery Batchelder Jr.

 

 

 

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Bill Long

Joined: 06 Apr 2010
Posts: 19

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: Aileron gap seal

I have a firefly and I weigh 200lb sometimes had the stick in my lap when I landed. Then I put a gap seal on the elevator and its way better. Used Menards clear tape overlapped about 3/4 of a inch to fill the gap.

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