---------------------------------------------------------- Europa-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sun 12/16/12: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 11:21 AM - mono wheel rear faring (graeme bird) 2. 01:29 PM - Re: mono wheel rear faring (John Heykoop) 3. 11:33 PM - Re: mono wheel rear faring (Fred Klein) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 11:21:20 AM PST US Subject: Europa-List: mono wheel rear faring From: "graeme bird" I fancy adding a rear fairing for the main wheel, has anyone made a mould they would be willing to share or any comments on the usefulness of such a feature, clearly the normal mono speed kit doesnt include it but I understand a round shape is bad for drag and it would also reduce mud splatter -------- Graeme Bird G-UMPY Mono 912S/Woodcomp 3000/3W Newby: 45 hours g(at)gdbmk.co.uk Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=390543#390543 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 01:29:34 PM PST US Subject: Re: Europa-List: mono wheel rear faring From: John Heykoop Graeme I added a main wheel fairing to my mono last year. It certainly was beneficial. Cruise speed has improved by 5 knots, although curiously maximum speed has not improved. One of my future projects is to try an find out why, by attaching a video camera to the underside of the aircraft and tufting the fairings, so that I can see what is happening to the airflow. One possibility is that the freestanding sides of the rear part of the fairing, which are only 3 ply thick, start to distort at high speeds. Before embarking on this mod I contacted Andy Draper, who was very helpful. He told me that when they flight tested the Europa prototype G-YURO, which had separate controls for flaps and undercarriage, lowering the wheel even at cruise speed seemed to make very little difference to speed. They concluded that most of the drag must be caused by the big hole in which the wheel lives. The trick is therefore not just to have a streamlined fairing, but to make sure that the undercarriage cavity is sealed as well as possible. Other useful hints were that the fairing should be constructed of 2 to 3 ply 'bid', so that it is sufficiently fragile to collapse in the event of a flat tyre or wheels-up landing, without imparting excessive loads on the fuselage skin. Also, that it is essential to incorporate a mud guard in the rear fairing. I am afraid I haven't got a mould you could use. Nor do I have any decent pictures. The dimensions of my fairing are in any case non-standard, for my mono has enhanced gear retraction (the main wheel retracts about 2 inches deeper into the wheel well than normal). Hope this helps. John G-JHKP Mono 912S with Airmaster prop On 16 Dec 2012, at 19:20, "graeme bird" wrote: > > I fancy adding a rear fairing for the main wheel, has anyone made a mould they would be willing to share or any comments on the usefulness of such a feature, clearly the normal mono speed kit doesnt include it but I understand a round shape is bad for drag and it would also reduce mud splatter > > -------- > Graeme Bird > G-UMPY > Mono 912S/Woodcomp 3000/3W > Newby: 45 hours > g(at)gdbmk.co.uk > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=390543#390543 > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 11:33:58 PM PST US From: Fred Klein Subject: Re: Europa-List: mono wheel rear faring On Dec 16, 2012, at 11:20 AM, graeme bird wrote: > I fancy adding a rear fairing for the main wheel, has anyone made a mould they would be willing to share or any comments on the usefulness of such a feature, Graeme...here's what I've done...I've used a mold borrowed from Alex Bowman...layup was 2 layer BID + stiffeners...note that the front of the portion of the fairing mounted to the LG fairs into the cowl...also made from Bowman's mold although was much modified...a nice winter project. 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