harrier problem fixed
#1
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From: Buffalo,
NY
i just got back from the field and my experiment worked!
my new profile design would wallow like a dying fish when i tried to harrier and that upset me because i was having so much fun with it and that was the only thing it would not do well (my spa3d can harrier all day long with no complaints)
so i had a hunch, !QUOT!lets try some turbulator strips!QUOT! i said to myself.
so i took some antenna tube cut 2 pieces 15!QUOT! long and taped them to the wing, outboard (from the tips in). at first it did nothing then i moved them to about 1 inch from the LE and BINGO, now she harriers rock solid!! i was so excited that i did a victory roll that sent one of the strips flying on its own! (no harm done though)
so now i need some permanent strips top and bottom
try them if you are having harrier problems, you will like them.
now i just need that 3D chip
anybody have a similar situation
pb#416

my new profile design would wallow like a dying fish when i tried to harrier and that upset me because i was having so much fun with it and that was the only thing it would not do well (my spa3d can harrier all day long with no complaints)
so i had a hunch, !QUOT!lets try some turbulator strips!QUOT! i said to myself.
so i took some antenna tube cut 2 pieces 15!QUOT! long and taped them to the wing, outboard (from the tips in). at first it did nothing then i moved them to about 1 inch from the LE and BINGO, now she harriers rock solid!! i was so excited that i did a victory roll that sent one of the strips flying on its own! (no harm done though)
so now i need some permanent strips top and bottom
try them if you are having harrier problems, you will like them.
now i just need that 3D chip
anybody have a similar situation
pb#416
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From: Louisville,
KY
I'd like to see some photos as well. How does that effect the forward flying charactaristics? My Sledge is so sensitive that if I have even the ever so slightest amount of flap in my ailerons it rocks really bad......but its fixed by tweaking a few clicks of reflex into one wing and trimming it out evenly. I also find that the perfect combo of rudder and ailerons, usually cross controlled, helps stabilize the harrier. But learning to find that sweet spot takes alot of practice.
#8
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From: Buffalo,
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this is the original thing i used, it is the thicker (3/16) size antena tube. the tube goes to the tip, (15"long on a 46" span)
yesterday i tried 1/8" wide 1/16 balsa 18"long but that must be to small because the effect was about inbetween good and nonexistent, next i will try 1/8" sq strips, top and bottom.
There was no effect on normal flight, i could not belive it myself, not even trim change.
its the classic golfball effect the turbulators "trip" the laminar flow making it turbulent, the turbulent airflow is more resistent to seperation than the smoother untripped (without the strips) airflow, so the wing does not stall as easy. at least that's what i think i read. it also can reduce drag
the 2 critical factors are the size of the strip, and the position in regards to the LE, to far back and its to late (the flow already is seperating) and too far forward the strip can act like a sharper LE (not what we want tward the tips)
i also suspect that the size and placement requirements for my airplane will be different for yours.
try it and tell me what you find, the weather just turned for the worse here so i may not be able to fly till the weekend.
#10
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From: Buffalo,
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you could do top and bottom, or just try the toop untill you find the sweet spot and then stick them in the bottom also
i think you will find an improvment in your slow flight handeling, instead of wing rocking during slow approches and such my plane acts more predictable now.
i think you will find an improvment in your slow flight handeling, instead of wing rocking during slow approches and such my plane acts more predictable now.
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From: Kota Bharu, MALAYSIA
Great idea and thanks for sharing the tip Spadstick! I've just tried it on my fun fly plane (RUOBO 46; Design and made in China) which would not want to do the elevator or harrier before now it would easily do the elevator and harrier. Still have a smidgen of wing rock. Will try different lenght/location when I go out next. BTW I use the outer nyrods as the tubulator strips.
Now to get it to flatten its spins!!!
Now to get it to flatten its spins!!!
#14
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From: Buffalo,
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great Gagak!
i'm glad it worked for you, i wish my job and the weather would let me fly some, to test it more.
i just finished a 3.25 lbs 48"span 46fx (with mcp) profile plane of my own design. cant wait to fly it!!
i'm glad it worked for you, i wish my job and the weather would let me fly some, to test it more.
i just finished a 3.25 lbs 48"span 46fx (with mcp) profile plane of my own design. cant wait to fly it!!
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From: n/a,
Dang it spadstick, I can't get the picture[
] I keep getting "x" in picture box. Can you upload image in a different format? I've got several aircraft that may require this setup.
] I keep getting "x" in picture box. Can you upload image in a different format? I've got several aircraft that may require this setup.
#18
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From: Buffalo,
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Good, somehow i lost the other pics on my site but i got one of them back.
I just flew another plane that had the harrier problem with the turbulators and it did seem to make quite a difference.
i was able to harrier with the wind with lots more controle thatn without the strips.
I need better weather to test this stuff more.
try it yourself, all it takes is some tape and some 2 12" strips of something like nyrod or even 1/4" balsa sticks.
have fun
I just flew another plane that had the harrier problem with the turbulators and it did seem to make quite a difference.
i was able to harrier with the wind with lots more controle thatn without the strips.
I need better weather to test this stuff more.
try it yourself, all it takes is some tape and some 2 12" strips of something like nyrod or even 1/4" balsa sticks.
have fun




