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Old September 14th 11, 12:53 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Rick Fuller[_2_]
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Posts: 2
Default Conspicuity Tape / Visibility Markings

On Sep 13, 2:25*am, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Sep 13, 3:49*am, ContestID67 wrote:

1) Leading edge tape seems the best location but will that trip the
boundary layer? *My experience is that the fishing tape is "very thin"
but I am unsure if it is as thin as aluminum speed tape. * This can be
a major road block for acceptance by competitive pilots, who are the
most likely to be flying in close quarters. * Dick would have been a
great person to perform this type of experiment.


If the prism tape works at a fairly wide range of angles then maybe it
can be put only on the bottom of the leading edge -- that is, below
the point at which the leading edge is vertical at a reasonable angle
of attack.

It may well still be quite visible in a head-on situation, and will be
perfectly visible on a circling glider to anyone outside the circle.

I assume that anyone inside the circle can already see the glider
ok :-)


I remember several years ago seeing photos of a soaring contest in
Europe where every sailplane had reflective tape about 10-12 inches
wide wrapped on the leading edges of each wing and the vertical stab.
Does anyone have any information about that? How effective? If it
was adopted?

Rick