Repairing Fiberglass Wheel Pants -- Results

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"

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.

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"