G/DAY JOHN
I finally got around to putting the Stolspeed VG'S on the MAGGIE and am very happy with the results.
The Jabiru 1600 gives about 50hp and makes for a relatively poor takeoff and climb performance. Now that I operate from the a new strip I was beginning to consider putting the VW back as I was usually only about 20ft above the fence at the end of the takeoff roll and the climb was 500ft/min. The climb could be lived with but I was worried that one day I would hit the fence.
'Maggie' is a low-wing all metal of my own design. Wing area is 92sgft. MAUW 360 kg. Wing Loading 8.6lb/sqft. Power Loading 16lb/hp.
Clean Stall 39knts and drops the right wing after pushing it hard enough. Flapped Stall 33knts [centre section flaps and drooping ailerons]flaps drop 40 and ailerons 20 degrees with full aileron action]
The VG'S were fitted to the wing and elevator as per your instructions except that the centre section [ about 2 ft either side] had vg's at 60mm spacing because I used the wrong pattern.
After fitting the VGs, the test flight returned the following results:
Flapped Stall 30 knts and similiar to above.
No noticeable change to cruising speed. The Maggie always had a relatively powerfull elevator but the feel at slow speeds and on approach is much improved.
The Maggie was never intended to be a stol aircraft and is not one now. On approach at 45 knts there is still plenty of energy to flare and holdoff with practice a 40 knt [or lower] approach should be a safe option given that I feel more in control at these slow speeds.
Don, Queensland Australia
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