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Hi Gary and Bryan, ( your questions and my story below)
Anyone have experience with leading edge tapes that are wider than 1"? How disruptive would it be to the laminar flow wing on the IV-P? Thanks.
Posted for "Bryan J. Burr" <bjburr@mwheli.com>:
There is a new terrific product made by 3M called "Clear Bra". It is
used as an invisible bug shield for luxury cars and luxury motorhomes.
I think it would be excellent treatment for the leading edges of the
wings, horizontal, vertical, and the front of the engine cowling. It is
installed by trained installers and available in most larger cities.
Call a BMW or Mercedes Dealer and find out who the installers are in
your area.
It is cut to your specific size.
I have L4P N6XE with over 210 hrs and I have the 3M, so called tape. It is holding up very well and I was told that it goes by several names, one is Invisashield. It is mostly used by Motorhomes for rock chip protection. It is not a tape, meaning that it has no glue. It is installed just like the window tint film by using an Aclcohol/ Water solution. It must soak a bit then it slides anywhere you want, then a squgee is used to plant it. I had to order the exact size because it is precut and expensive. I had a professional do mine and I wish I would have done it myself. I used 2 inch wide on the wings and I think the same on the Horz. tail with more underneith than on top. I also used this to seal the Wing/ Fillet gap, and on the door side I used a 12 inch wide piece to act as a wing walk continuing it down the flap. At the leading edge of the gap joint we doubled up for about 6 inches above and below the leading edge. They say the air pressure can break through a single layer at this point.
The advantage of this product is; No glue joint to attract dirt and make it hard to remove. 2) It is Not supposed to yellow like most Urethane tapes. (So far mine is looking fine, on Pearl White paint). 3) It is only .007 inch thick and shouldn't cause a disturbance in the Laminar Flow layer on the wing.
This said, I know of one guy that removed his and said he saw 3 or 4 kts more speed. (Take that with a grain.) A few months ago an Aeronautical Professor was looking at my airplane and while walking around he said I wonder how much this slows you down? I said what do you think? No real answers. Someday I will remove it and do a flight test.
This stuff cleans up just as easy as the paint and I think protects like advertised.
Jim Hergert
N6XE, "An Sex Y" L4P
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