Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:46:43 -0500
Message-ID: <redirect-1882114@logan.com>
From: RWolf99@aol.com
Subject: Stall Strips
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Just a few thoughts about stall buffet and stall strips.

Stall strips are put on the inboard wing leading edge to make the inner 
portion of the wing stall first, if it doesn't naturally do it (which is the 
design goal).  They are not there to provide aerodynamic buffeting.  The 
buffeting happens due to the wake of the stalling inboard wing hitting the 
tail.  If the tail is positioned such that this occurs, it will happen 
whether there's a stall strip or not.  So adding stall strips in order to get 
buffeting isn't the thing to do.

Feel free to agree or disagree.  While I am an aero engineer, I am not an 
aerodynamics specialist, so my comments above should not be taken as gospel 
(unlike everything else I say...heh heh).

If you want to experiment with stall strips, take a small aluminum angle and 
tape it to your wing leading edge.  Orient it so that it looks like the 
triangular stall strips you've seen on other airplanes.  Go be a test pilot, 
but at a safe altitude.  Practice landings at altitude so you don't get an 
unpleasant surprise in the flare.  Move the strips around between flights.  
When you get the aircraft response you want, use the angle as a mold for a 
permanent stall strip that you make out of flox -- just goop up the aluminum 
angle with flox and tape it back onto the wing.  Pop it off, and presto!  A 
composite stall strip.

- Rob Wolf