Wing alignment

[bardolho]

Hello all.

I'm flying a low wing "trainer" with assymetric wing profile and a bit of dihedral. Its ~95cm in span. It flies great, but it's slow in roll and hasn't got enough control surface to fly slowly. The fuselage is in good in my eyes, so I'm thinking about modifying the wing (buildinng a new one) and control surfaces to make it more aerobatic and maybe even being able to fly beyond stalling.

I've been looking at some 3D and pattern planes (like extra, yak, edge and funtana and older, longer ones). It seems to me the wing always is in line with the stab. Will I have to move the wing up to align with the stab or can I get good results with a low-mounted wing?

bo[R]ed

[space_case]

Your assumptions seem to be correct. I would suggest you build a new plane if you really want an all-out 3D aerobat.

OTOH I flattened out the wings of one of my first Gentle Ladies and added ailerons, which flew in the face of the wisdom down at the LHS. "What a waste of time, that wing was not designed for ailerons and blah blah blah"

I proceeded to fly at the dunes down at the beach with impunity.

I'm saying that there is nothing wrong with a little experimentation.

So why not build a new wing. I would not try to make a low wing into a mid wing, however. If you go that far, why not scratch a new plane.

[vintage1]

What he says. A fully symmetrical low wing with a LITTLE dihedral - say 2-3 degrees - will net you a reasonable aerobat.

[bardolho]

Thanks guys

That's basically what I decided too. I'm building a new symmetrical wing with a little shorter span, that fits where the old one was. I'm keeping it straight at the top and a little dihedral on the bottom, making the wing narrower at the tips and broader at the base and stretching the ailerons. In addition I'm attaching slightly larger rudder and elevator.

I hope I'll finish by the weekend and I'll try to post some pictures when I finish.

[Scaledown]

Its best not to have the wing in line with the stab, because you you want the stab flying in clean air, not the turbulent wash from the wing.

[space_case]

Its best not to have the wing in line with the stab, because you you want the stab flying in clean air, not the turbulent wash from the wing.

This does not really apply to the type of aircraft being discussed.