"Speed" tape?

Sailplanes are taped and sealed all over. It has nothing to do with the
type of tape and everything to do with eliminating unintentional air
eakage - in or out.

It starts with the all the control surfaces. It's a given that no air
should leak through any hinge line. Practically all production racing
sailplanes have sealed control surfaces. Mylar strip, fabric, tape, metal
strips, etc. Some of it is quite elaborate. (Turbulator tape kind of
serves the opposite purpose -see blow hold turbulators)

Then every gap, seam, control rod exit, wing root, canopy edge and gear door
is sealed. The objective is to only have vent air entering thru a ram or
NACA vent and exhausting typically thru a hole near the bottom of the fin.
Though everyone is convinced of the value of sealing - few spend the time to
analyze the proper exhaust of vent air.

It's all pretty fanatical but it works from a racing perspective where a 1%
advantage is meaningful. Presume this ships all have experimental certs...

Thinking about all that and looking at my Maule gives me a headache!

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:5Uz6d.131331$MQ5.70054@attbi_s52...
At Reno, all the Formula One and Sport class racers had every single
non-aerodynamic gap covered with clear tape.

Which got me to thinking, there are LOTS of non-aerodynamic gaps on my
Pathfinder.

The stuff looks like basic, clear packing tape. Anyone used this stuff?
Is
there any benefit at all, or is it one of those "over 200 mph" things,
like
the spoiler on my Mustang?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"