Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #16376
From: <RWolf99@aol.com>
Sender: Marvin Kaye <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Stall Strips
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:46:43 -0500
To: <lml>
Just a few thoughts about stall buffet and stall strips.

Stall strips are put on the inboard wing leading edge to make the inner
portion of the wing stall first, if it doesn't naturally do it (which is the
design goal).  They are not there to provide aerodynamic buffeting.  The
buffeting happens due to the wake of the stalling inboard wing hitting the
tail.  If the tail is positioned such that this occurs, it will happen
whether there's a stall strip or not.  So adding stall strips in order to get
buffeting isn't the thing to do.

Feel free to agree or disagree.  While I am an aero engineer, I am not an
aerodynamics specialist, so my comments above should not be taken as gospel
(unlike everything else I say...heh heh).

If you want to experiment with stall strips, take a small aluminum angle and
tape it to your wing leading edge.  Orient it so that it looks like the
triangular stall strips you've seen on other airplanes.  Go be a test pilot,
but at a safe altitude.  Practice landings at altitude so you don't get an
unpleasant surprise in the flare.  Move the strips around between flights.  
When you get the aircraft response you want, use the angle as a mold for a
permanent stall strip that you make out of flox -- just goop up the aluminum
angle with flox and tape it back onto the wing.  Pop it off, and presto!  A
composite stall strip.

- Rob Wolf
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