All,

What effect do flaps have on a high-wing trainer type craft? (i.e. Sig LT-25 or JKAerotech T-52)

How hard is it to learn to use them effectively? Will they make landing the plane easier, or will it just be one more thing to worry about?

Is it worth adding them to a trainer just to play around? I've been considering building two wings for my first plane, one just stock, and the other with flaps.

-Rick

Flaps are a lift enhancement device...Basically, they give you more lift for the same speed. This mean you can fly slower and create the same amount of lift you would normally create at a higher speed.

They effectively change the camber of the wing or it's absolute angle of attack...Besides a slower stall speed, slower top end speed, and more lift, they tend to cause a pitch down. It is not a big deal though.

This means you can land slower and slow down faster...Is it worth it on a trainer? In my opinion, it is not. Is it worth it for the fun of it and the experience? It always is!!

Reaction of the plane will change depending on the amount of deflection. If you want airbrake type effect, for steep landing approaches, you'll want about 40 degrees of deflection. If you want to slow fly, or short field takeoffs, you'll want something less; say 15 degrees or so..Experiment, it is fun.

I agree with BotleRocketWar. I have a Telemaster .40 and when I built it I put flaps on it. They are fun to expeiriment with after you have learned to land without them. Make for nice slow flyby's.

I love playing with them on different planes. You have to watch though, the first twenty degrees causes the nose to pitch up, then the rest pitch down. You have to fly it or use a mixer. I tend to just fly it, but mixing a little down elevator in with the first twenty is nice. Makes it fun.