Wing Stagger in re: Aerobatics

[Lon Enloe]

I'm curious about staggered versus "straight-up-and-down" wings on a bipe. I've searched this forum and didn't see any posts that answered my real question, so I'll ask it: What difference would I see in the aerobatic qualities between each of these wing arrangements?

[vintage1]

I can't see that it would make any frankly.

[capncrunch]

Andy Lennon article from MAN circa 1998:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3819/is_199802/ai_n8799373

he shares the common opinion that stagger doesnt matter much, but he is not talking about aerobatics.

in general, aerobatic bipes have some positive stagger, with a degree or two of positive incidence of the top wing vs. the bottom wing to ensure that it stalls first.

-barrett

[Rodney]

I have not noticed any difference between positive and negative stagger in my models. I have found that all (about 7 different designs and 12 different models) that all perform best with the upper wing at about minus 1.5 degrees incidence with respect to the lower wing. The relative difference between upper and lower wing can have a very significant effect on how the model flys. If you can easily do it, try different settings and you will find one which really lets the model grove as you like it.

[Sparky Paul]

Stagger was invented to give the pilot a better view upward. Sweep for the same reason.
These aren't considerations with a model.

[Majortomski]

Stagger was invented to give the pilot a better view upward. Sweep for the same reason.
These aren't considerations with a model.
Yeah but...you'd think that the shifting Center of lift due to one wing stalling before the other would affect other stall based flight characteristics.

T :confused:

[Sparky Paul]

Yeah but...you'd think that the shifting Center of lift due to one wing stalling before the other would affect other stall based flight characteristics.

T :confused:
.
Probably not as much as you'd think.
The small differences in wing incidence that would make one wing stall earlier wouldn't be an easily attainable/sustainable condition.
The "safety" of having a nose-down condition when one wing stalls is purely for people carriers.
A mode can use anything that makes it respond the way the flier wants it..
super stable or super active.

[capncrunch]

The +1-2 deg incidence of the top wing was suggested to me as a fix for the Sig ultimate profile bipe's brick-like deadstick glide.

OP asked about aerobatics, I can guess that it might affect some things like certain spins or tumbles being easier in one direction, and 3d - possibly better harriers at the cost of inverted harrier, but I can't really quantify any of that.



-b

[Lon Enloe]

Thanks, guys--the mechanical structure of the project I have in mind will be much simpler without staggered wings, so that's what I'll go with.