Spoiler setup - necessary to add covering to inside of wing?

[fprintf]

When looking at pictures of spoilers I noticed that there is no covering running across the open area when the spoiler is up.

What I haven't noticed is if there is covering that needs to be put toward the trailing edge end of the opening between the ribs to prevent wind from getting inside the wing.

Kindof like this:
LE TE
_/ ____
_______

vs.

_/ ____
___|____

or even

_/ ____
_|_|____

[Sparky Paul]

I've seen it done, but have never felt the need myself.

[SoarNeck]

The best bet is to cover under the spoiler blade, leaving just enough gap for the actuating horn to stick through. Assuming a built-up wing, you'll need to build a frame to support the covering underneath, and you'll need a Monokote Trim Iron or the like to get down into the bay. Check out the Bubble Dancer/ Allegro Lite drawings for an example.

[Al M]

Don't worry about it. The only problem I had was when I only used hinge tape on one surface. With the spoilers up, grass seeds stuck to the exposed sticky stuff preventing them from closing.

[fprintf]

Don't worry about it. The only problem I had was when I only used hinge tape on one surface. With the spoilers up, grass seeds stuck to the exposed sticky stuff preventing them from closing.

Oooh, good info. Knowing the field we fly from this is critically important to know! I think I will use a monokote hinge on both upper and lower surfaces as they have worked remarkably well when I hinged the tail surfaces.

Based on this being my first spoilered plane I will forego the inside covering for now.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

[mhmitchell333]

Since the idea of a spoiler is to kill lift and creat drag I see no reason to worry about the open bay under the spoiler since all it would do is kill lift and creat drag.

[SoarNeck]

...it's more because the spoiler isn't supposed to create drag when it's closed.

The old joke about spoilers is that they're a device used to create drag – whether they’re open or not (what do you want, it’s a sailplane joke)…