Speed mods for homebuilts

"Lou" wrote in message
ups.com...
Ok, say your building an Emeraude and your not looking to make it a
speed demon, you just want to close up a few gaps. As your building the
wings, you realize the sizable gaps at between the wing and the flaps,
& ailerons. What would anyone recommend to close these up while in the
building process instead of waiting until it's finished. Also what
other reccommondations would anyone have (besides building a different
plane) for plain old cleaing up the efficiency of the plane? Not
wanting to change the design, just want to build it in instead of
adding after market product.

Have you considered why the designer didn't close up those gaps? There is a
very good reason. If you want a different design, please rename it. If you
change some of the basic tenets of a design, don't make the designer
responsible for your ideas.

That being said, here's how to revise the design to make it faster. Buy a
set of RV-6 plans and use that wing and landing gear. Do not use the
elliptical wing of the Emeraude. Get rid of the draggy wing/landing gear
interstice. Don't use the bubble canopy or the built-up canopy. Make it a
straight line from the top of the canopy to the base of the tail. Increase
the slant of the windshield. Buy a pre-molded RV-6 cowling. The Emeraude
cowling design will cost you 20-30 mph. Buy Van's wheelpants with the
reverse curve aft of the centerline. They will give you 15 mph over bare
wheels & tires. Revise the fuselage plan (and the firewall) to change the CG
and allow a constant speed propeller and governor. Reduce the thickness of
the fin and rudder. Change the tailwheel spring design to a straight rod.

Now call it an RV-(wood)6

Rich S.