Wing Tape - Does Thickness Affect Performance?

On 24 Jan 2007 15:09:09 -0800, "Udo" wrote:


I am do not know about the tape, but a 6"-7" pee tube could generate
about .2 lb of drag at 85 kt, hence a one day contest base on a 1000
points, all else being equal, could reduce the points count by 12-15
points.

.... not to mention the significant loss of wing loading due to the
weight that goes overboard through the pee tube...


Bye
Andreas

But he's right - that's why I use pee bags, so I only have to deal with the
loss of wing load :-)

"Andreas Maurer" wrote in message
...
On 24 Jan 2007 15:09:09 -0800, "Udo" wrote:


I am do not know about the tape, but a 6"-7" pee tube could generate
about .2 lb of drag at 85 kt, hence a one day contest base on a 1000
points, all else being equal, could reduce the points count by 12-15
points.

... not to mention the significant loss of wing loading due to the
weight that goes overboard through the pee tube...


Bye
Andreas

Yeh, I considered both of these effects (mass and drag) when I decided
to keep the yellow ballast on board and dump after landing.

Andy

On Jan 25, 5:14 am, Andreas Maurer wrote:
On 24 Jan 2007 15:09:09 -0800, "Udo" wrote:

I am do not know about the tape, but a 6"-7" pee tube could generate
about .2 lb of drag at 85 kt, hence a one day contest base on a 1000
points, all else being equal, could reduce the points count by 12-15
points.... not to mention the significant loss of wing loading due to the
weight that goes overboard through the pee tube...

Bye
Andreas

To heck with the drag, convenience is king, but you can reduce that
drag of the tube to 1.2 to 1.5 points a day if you fair it. In the past
pilots did find that incorporating the tube on the inside of the gear
door was not a good solution either. The drag caused by lowering the
gear partly caused overall more drag over time. Naturally the older you
get the more drag you generate, as you have too lower the gear more
often, as well each session takes longer. Also you have to remember to
lower the gear.
Udo

Technically, wouldn't ejecting a liquid under pressure to the rear
create a propulsion vector. Younger guys would have an advantage in
both M and V ... older guys would would have more propulsion episodes.


AndyI am do not know about the tape, but a 6"-7" pee tube could generate
about .2 lb of drag at 85 kt, hence a one day contest base on a 1000
points, all else being equal, could reduce the points count by 12-15
points.
Udo

On Jan 25, 10:14 am, "Ken Kochanski (KK)"
wrote:
Technically, wouldn't ejecting a liquid under pressure to the rear
create a propulsion vector. Younger guys would have an advantage in
both M and V ... older guys would would have more propulsion episodes.

Exactly,
Corky installed it on his 27, now mine, in that fashion, facing back. I
will install an accumulator and will heat it with access heat from
within the cockpit and expel it under higher pressure and make it a
one episode thing on final glide.
Udo

Gosh, is it April already?

--
Hartley Falbaum


wrote in message
oups.com...
Tape drag not a huge effect, but can add up to 10 or 15 points over the
course of a contest. That's why many top Euopean contest pilots use a
special putty compound to smooth over the tape edges. It's a bit
tedious for a single day's flying, but if you're going to stay
assembled for a week it's not so bad.

On Jan 22, 3:13 pm, "ContestID67" wrote:
No, this is not SPAM as the subject line might lead one to believe.
;-)

I have seen lots of wing tape. Many of the advertisements are for very
thin and flexible tape which conforms to the curves of the wing.
However, the cost can be prohibitive, especially if you assemble often.

A friend of mine (very high time & competitive pilot) uses 3M
electrical tape. We got to talking about it and we agreed that this
high quality tape is very flexible, has good temperature properties and
not very expensive. Easy to find also.

The only issue then was the thickness. Wouldn't the edge of the think
tape affect performance? The friend pointed out (correctly) that the
tape runs perpenticular to the span of the wing and thus the tape's
edge is parallel to the air flow. Thus no performance issues.

Any thoughts? What about with bug whippers?

Enjoy, John

PS There is one issue with 1/2" wide electrical tape - whether it is
wide enough to bridge the gap. It all depends, I suppose, on the fit
and finish of your glider.

wrote:
Tape drag not a huge effect, but can add up to 10 or 15 points over the
course of a contest.

Has that ever been scientifically measured?

Ian

You can look forward to it, eventually. It helps if
the cockpit seat is reclined a good bit; lying down
helps us spend 8 hours in bed without going. I'm down
to about 4 hrs in the cockpit without relief and I
have about 18 years on you.

At 17:44 25 January 2007, Jcarlyle wrote:
Perhaps I'm just lucky, but I've never felt any need
for an in-flight
relief system. Is this urge to go something most pilots
are subject to,
or just a sub-set? Or is it something I can look forward
to?

I'm not trying to start anything, I'd just like to
know if there are
others like me. For the record, I'm 58, I'll drink
up to 48 ounces of
water during flights, I've been airborne up to 6 hours,
and I fly in
eastern Pennsylvania.

-John

You would not like the results of a ruptured bladder if you crash on
landing!
It can be (and has been) fatal, as it is sometimes not detected till too
late.

--
Hartley Falbaum


"Nyal Williams" wrote in message
...
You can look forward to it, eventually. It helps if
the cockpit seat is reclined a good bit; lying down
helps us spend 8 hours in bed without going. I'm down
to about 4 hrs in the cockpit without relief and I
have about 18 years on you.

At 17:44 25 January 2007, Jcarlyle wrote:
Perhaps I'm just lucky, but I've never felt any need
for an in-flight
relief system. Is this urge to go something most pilots
are subject to,
or just a sub-set? Or is it something I can look forward
to?

I'm not trying to start anything, I'd just like to
know if there are
others like me. For the record, I'm 58, I'll drink
up to 48 ounces of
water during flights, I've been airborne up to 6 hours,
and I fly in
eastern Pennsylvania.

-John