fixed vs. retracts ... Drag and turbulence

[Wayne Galligan]

THANKS  Karl, James & Eric.....

I have noticed on my plane the knife edge took less rudder as compared to the same airplane with retracts.   But then setup and c.g could account for that too (another totaly different subject).  SOOOO many variables here.

Wayne G.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Henderson,Eric 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 2:11 PM
  Subject: RE: fixed vs. retracts ... Drag and turbulence



  -----Original Message-----
  From: Henderson,Eric 
  Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 3:07 PM
  To: 'discussion at nsrca.org'
  Subject: RE: fixed vs. retracts ... Drag and turbulence


  There are other items to consider. I happen to have a fixed gear and a retract  Hydeout. I flew them both with the same engines, sometimes the very same engine.

  There is a difference in flight.

  First of all I adopted the practice of filling the leg section of the wing with a strip of TX foam. Secondly the wheels hit a foam block to keep then both the same distance from the surface of the wing. That all helped the retract wing.

  Now operation. Fixed gear beats the pants off retracts on hard top. The wire legs tend to lean too much with side wind etc. On grass they are good and of course it is nice to pull them up if you are short of the field.

  Fixed gear bounces more and is vulnerable, Breaks the fuse a lot of times.

  All that aside the fixed gear really makes a difference in the air, I am talking about bolly airfoil sectioned gear.

  The fixed gear version will KE loop with authority. The 4 of 8 is simply easier with the foreplanes in action.

  Enjoy!.

  E.

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