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ailerons / flap question

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Old 03-11-2012 | 07:42 AM
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Default ailerons / flap question

For a phsyics experiment measuring lift, can a wing with just ailerons be sufficient to measure the lift. I cant find wings with flaps online!

here is what im talking about:

http://www.wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/57991/

http://www.wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/57926/
Old 03-11-2012 | 07:56 AM
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Default RE: ailerons / flap question

How you choose to setup that wing- using flaperons or flaps only - remember this
the lift available is dictated by the SIZE of the wing and the speed thru the air
bending the wing panels (undercamber ) will produce more lift and more drag.
BOTH
so forget the crap about special shapes which produce "more lift"
you get both -lift and drag - they go hand in hand
more lift for landing ?
add reflex (flaps)
Old 03-11-2012 | 08:14 AM
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Default RE: ailerons / flap question

You could create split flaps with a piece of 1/16" plywood attached to the wing with some masking tape.
Old 03-11-2012 | 08:38 AM
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Default RE: ailerons / flap question

hey, since the windtunnel is small (40cm) ill have to buy these micro plane wings:

http://www.parkzone.com/Products/Def...rodID=PKZU1080 <- this is the whole plane , this is just the wing section: http://www.wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/62360/

you said about size of the wing...is the fact it is small going to affect lift, ignoring the wind speed. Also, the wing seems to be quite thin.
Old 03-11-2012 | 09:31 AM
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Default RE: ailerons / flap question

Thin is bad? common misconception
nothing wrong with thin-as long as it is strong enough
being thick just increases usable angles of attack no matter how you shape it
it does NOT increase lift.- never has- never will- It actually decreases absolute lift possibility
visualize a wing getting thicker and thicker -till it is as thick as it is broad
a square .
or a rod
no lift except if rotated rapidly

lift is made when pressure differences occur
No other way - birds or bees or aircraft
so-
a very thin wing makes lift at very low angle of attack-at very low speeds
you can move it or flap it
as long as there is pressure differences you can get lift

Old 03-11-2012 | 05:34 PM
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Default RE: ailerons / flap question

I'd say you have a lot to learn yet. Yes you can use small sections in a wind tunnel. But to do so at Reynolds numbers that are meaningful you need to raise the speed or static air pressure in the wind tunnel for the results to be useful for larger models or full size aircraft.

And buying wings from other models is seldom going to provide you with true airfoils that you can call by name. Unless you build it using parameters you know you can trust and can measure them to ensure the sections are within less than 1% of truly shaped you really don't have what you think you have.
Old 03-11-2012 | 06:09 PM
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Default RE: ailerons / flap question

Ahh drag... I'm nearing the end of a self designed plane and set the mid wing 3/4" below the thrust center line in an effort to balance the drag above the thrust line. It was of course a pure guesstimate.

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