Hi Stan,
I have flown the Legacy RG with cuffs and without. The first Legacy RG to be fitted with the cuffs was I believe John Smiths legacy from Perth in Oz.
John and I collected a lot of data from both before and after the fitting of the wing cuffs, John will have all of that information. We found there was no change to high speed performance, no reduction in stall speed but a big change in the amount of buffet prior to the onset of a stall.
The pre stall buffet is very pronounced and evident 2 to 3 knots prior to the stall (standard wing buffet happens about 1 knot prior to stall) ailerons are effective into the stall and the big selling point from my perspective is the improved stability and improved roll control on final approach or at low speed in any configuration.
The Legacy with cuffs is a lot more solid and stable on approach at say 85kts than is the standard winged Legacy. I know you guys will say there is no need to fly that slow (1.3 VS) on finals but there are many airports here in Oz that don't have the luxury of huge runways.
As my Legacy is flying, and I am comfortable with its handling I don't plan on fitting cuffs. However if I was in the build stage still, I would go ahead and install the cuffs.
The Legacy wing is a beautiful wing, but I must admit the low speed handling characteristics of an already good wing are improved with the cuffs. They do not effect high speed numbers and I think having that little bit extra wing may also improve high altitude handling.
That's my two bobs worth.
Gary Weeks
Legacy RG #205
Sent from my iPad
I am still building my Legacy but the wings are finished and in primer. Now Lancair has introduced a new product to add cuff airfoils to the outboard section of the wings. http://www.lancair.com/index.php/latest-news/335-legacy-cuffs This "upgrade" addresses several of the Legacy's short comings voiced on LML: better roll control, reduced stall speed and enhanced stall warning buffet, all without effecting the top speed. New Legacy kits will include the Cuffs at no extra charge but as an upgrade the cuffs cost $1495. Has anyone flown a cuffed wing aircraft? How may Legacy drivers would spring for the Cuff Upgrade to improve their Legacy's slow speed performance? If new Legacy kits come with the cuffs shouldn't I buy the upgrade just to prevent my Legacy from being a "classic" before it's ever built? Stan Fields Legacy Kit 201 Austin
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