Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2003 19:59:46 -0500
Message-ID: <redirect-1992335@logan.com>
Reply-To: "Dan Schaefer" <dfs155@earthlink.net>
From: "Dan Schaefer" <dfs155@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Wing Loading mysteries
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Gary Edwards wrote"

"As does Earl and others, I cruise fly with about -4 degrees reflex ( 3/4
inch up from neutral) as Don G. had suggested.  Less twist (strain) in the
wing as I was told.  Also other 235ers have indicated, some on the LML, that
their best cruise speeds are with this partial up reflex."

Interesting how the message is different depending upon who delivers it.
Back in about '86 or so (when I bought my 235 kit from Lance) we had several
discussions about the why's and wherefore's of flap reflex. At that time,
the reasons given for reflexing was that, due to the very high pitching
moment of the NLF airfoil, it was required to relieve excessive "twist
(strain)" on the wing structure at airspeeds over approx. 160 (MPH) IAS. It
also was the "go-fast" as it reduced so much trim drag.

Further, I've done some testing at different reflex angles (about -5 and -7
degrees) and don't see too much difference in cruise. Less than that,
maybe -4  or -3 degrees or so, my airplane slows down a bit as I have to
trim nose up to maintain altitude. Go figure!

Dan Schaefer
Early 235