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Old 07-23-2004 | 02:46 PM
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BMatthews
 
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From: Chilliwack, BC, CANADA
Default RE: Laminar Flow

Did a google.com search on airfoil laminar flow and got lots of hits that explain and illustrate it very well. Three of the better ones that came up in the first two pages of links are....

http://www.aviation-history.com/theory/lam-flow.htm
http://mb-soft.com/public/lowdrag.html
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/jou...uque/tran.html

At model speeds all you can do is delay the laminar separation and the transition to turbulent flow. But for racing any delay results in a good drop in overall drag. You only need to win by a few 1/10's after all.

For what you want a slippery symetrical or very low camber value is probably best. Something like some of the slope glider racing airfoils in the 8% thick region would work great if that thin an airfoil is allowed by the rules.