Repairing Fiberglass Wheel Pants -- Results

[Jay Honeck]

Okay, here's the final tale of the tape:

(These are GPS ground speeds, verified either in absolutely calm air or in
two directions. Probably not a 100% perfect method, but close...)

Without fancy pants: 136 knots at 23 squared.

With repaired fancy pants: 143 knots at 23 squared.

This is a 5% increase in speed -- not bad for wheel pants.

The 143 knots is actually up a knot from when we first got the plane

Actually, I had noticed a gradual decrease in cruise speed over time, which
I had attributed to the engine no longer being brand-spanking new. Now, I
wonder if those wheel pants weren't actually out there flapping in the
breeze, causing increased drag?

Cost of repair/modification: $976. At our current rate of flying (between
150 and 200 hours, annually) they will pay for themselves in around a year.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dave Butler]

Jay Honeck wrote:

<snip>

> The 143 knots is actually up a knot from when we first got the plane

<snip>

I think this is attributing way more precision to your measurements than is
warranted by your technique. Just my opinion.

[Jay Honeck]

> > The 143 knots is actually up a knot from when we first got the plane
>
> <snip>
>
> I think this is attributing way more precision to your measurements than
is
> warranted by your technique.

Yeah, probably so. Although GPS groundspeed as measured by flying
reciprocal directions is about as accurate as I can get, without going to
extreme gymnastics.

Still, 143 knots ain't half bad for a stiff-gear Cherokee.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"