From: RWolf99@aol.com
Message-ID: <a1.2c7052f.25fbe818@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 13:19:04 EST
Subject: Re:  Strakes
To: Lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

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Tail strakes should have a leading edge radius, not be sharp.  A sharp 
leading edge could result in tail stall at a low angle of attack (tail stall 
is very bad....).  So make it match the rest of the tail and you should be 
fine.

Will the strake help?  Jim Michaels and Ernie Rischar say yes.  I've seen 
their strakes and they look pretty good.  I'm not sure whether they help or 
not, but I've not flown their airplane, and they have, so my opinion doesn't 
count for much here.  I do know that their strakes can't hurt 
aerodynamically, so why not?

I understand that the Mark 2 tail was made of graphite so that its weight 
would match the small tail, so enlarging the little tail may not be a good 
idea.  I'd go with the larger tail (and cough up the $2K) but if you can't, 
I'd choose the strakes over the vanilla small tail or an extended small tail. 
 Personally, I'd put my money into a longer engine mount and a forward CG 
before I bought a big tail.

The Edwards AFB EAA chapter website for a good article by Norm (Hamilton ?) 
on the subject of small vs. large tails on the 360.

- Rob Wolf
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