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Jerry:
<<Would you recommend the extended wing tips?
Yes, I would recommend the extended wings and I have never understood why
this option is not more frequently chosen by builders. (I must admit that I
have little experience flying the shorter-winged LNC2s.) Consider the
following advantages of longer wings: lower stall speed, shorter takeoff
roll, longer glide, faster climb, more lateral stability (around the roll
axis), higher airspeed and better fuel efficiency at higher altitudes
(because of more lift and less nose-high AOA), slower landings (because of
lower stall speed) potentially producing a slower accident speed should
accident occur and finally, less wear and tear on brakes and tires because
of lower takeoff and landing speeds.
The downside of longer wings are few -especially in the Lancairs which are
almost never used for aerobatics and almost always used for high,
cross-country transport. One downside is less fast roll-response ( but I
consider less rapid roll to be desirable -especially in turbulence). Lower
wing-loading results from longer wings but I have not found this to be of
disadvantage at the high altitudes that I like to fly. Bumps are more
brutal with lower wing loading but left-to-right motion is reduced because
longer wings offer more resistance to left/right movement (imagine the slow
left/right movement if wings were 100 feet long). Shorter wings probably do
provide more controllability in really rough wx again because of wing
loading. Weight differences between configurations are negligible and fuel
efficiencies perhaps do result at lower altitudes in the short-winged
Lancairs. I say "perhaps" because longer wings create smaller wingtip
vortex and lower the nose (i.e., change AOA) for improved aerodynamic
efficiencies but those same longer wings do have higher flat-plate drag.
Gliders which are the most fuel efficient aircraft of all, operate at low
altitudes with very long wings.
My four-foot long wing extensions are not detachable and are of my own
design having installed them in 1989 before Lance offered his extensions.
Stall is 54 MPH at about 1800# weight! Greg Nelson
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