You didn't say which way you were pointing your tips?
Note - Michel Colomban's latest wing designed to be highly stable at high
speed has a slightly upturned winglet. Dyn Aero's slow stall speed wing on
their similar aircraft has down swept wingtips like on a shadow to minimise
stall speed. A poorly shaped wing tip will just increase drag with no real
gain in wing efficiency.
All may not be what it seems.
Jerry
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From: MARK CLARK <CLAM@KIDD.CO.ZA>
Subject: Wing Tip Shape
Date: 24 November 1997 14:09
I have been doing a bit of research on wing tip shape, and it would appear
that a smoothly rounded tip produces the most induced drag, because of the
ease with which higher pressure air can on the bottom of the wing can
*escape* around to the top of the wing.
I am considering a Hoerner wing tip which appears to reduce the tip
vortices. I shaped one out of scrap foam over the weekend which matches
nicely with the rest of the wing.
Has anyone else considered this option or taken it up with the factory? Is
there any reason why Europa went for rounded teardrop wingtips other than
for ease of manufacture or to provide a convenient surface for mounting
wingtip lights ?
Mark Clark
#285 Centurion
South Africa
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