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Old 09-16-2003 | 10:28 PM
  #22  
Johng
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From: Deland, FL
Default RE: Stall Question

Airflow over top of wing must remain laminar-AIRFLOW-not airfoil.
MMmm, no. Laminar is not the same as unstalled. Laminar is a special condition of airflow having little or no turbulence. This is why some folks develop laminar-flow airfoils, to help decrease drag. However, most planes do not have very much laminar airflow over the wings at all. In some cases, laminar flow is a bad thing. Laminar flow generally leads to more abrupt stalls at lower angles of attack. Laminar flow also causes a drag rise on many rc sailplane designs. I have one myself, where a strip of tape is used to make the airflow turbulent on the wing, which increases performance.