how do you protect the wings leading edge

motor12 · Jul 03, 2012, 12:18 PM

On a sailplane that is constructed of balsa and covered with ultracote how or what do you use to protect the leading edge of the wing when landing in a grass field. I am now flying a RP and sometimes when landing i get bits of grass stuck in the foam wing.I would think if this were to happen to a ultracote wing it would a big problem. Thanks

Andy W · Jul 03, 2012, 02:57 PM

It's generally not a problem.

Anything you put on there is going to mess up the airfoil..
..a

Leadchucker · Jul 03, 2012, 03:18 PM

Thousands of such landings on grass with little to no effect on leading edge. It's pretty much a no worries senario. Lamp posts,no parking signs, automobiles, trees,mailboxes,guy wires,buildings,idlely unaware standingby pilots and other aircraft do have an varying negative effect.

timography · Jul 03, 2012, 08:48 PM

agree with leadchucker on this one. you would have to be landing your RP (Radian Pro??) v.e.r.y. hard into grass for anything to start sticking into your wing LE. I have a Radian and 2x Radian Pro's and i've never had any problem with LE's getting damaged. If it continues to be a problem, perhaps you should be seeking somewhere different to fly that has a more suitable landing area (read: soft green grass - not a wheat field lol)

ozmo01 · Jul 03, 2012, 09:56 PM

Hi,
The dry grass, weeds, stubble and brush are a bit harsh on LEs but usually grass slides off of the slick covered wings (monokote etc). Foam may tend to be cut a bit by sharp dry grasses. The Paul Naton soup up for Radians calls for taping the LE with THIN packing type tape ( thin cheap light stuff NOT Duck tape type ). This approach would help I think. Anything more would be dead weight and a PITA.
OzMo

Bad scientist · Jul 05, 2012, 04:14 PM

Hand catch.

David Hipperson · Jul 10, 2012, 02:31 AM

If it is a real concern to you an extra layer of film over the leading edge will help. I've flown both on soft grass and stubble without real problem but one or even two layers of film are unlikely to change the characteristics of the airfoil.

Zor · Jul 10, 2012, 12:20 PM

If you cover the wings with woven fabric and have threads lengthwise along the leading edge there is little chance that those threads will break under tension.

Fabric having tyically 80 threads per inch will have many threads along the curve of the leading edge.

Just find how much tension you need to break a single thread of 40 gauge.

Zor

Jul 03, 2012, 12:18 PM	#1
motor12 Machete don't text United States, TX, Austin Joined Jan 2010 429 Posts	how do you protect the wings leading edge On a sailplane that is constructed of balsa and covered with ultracote how or what do you use to protect the leading edge of the wing when landing in a grass field. I am now flying a RP and sometimes when landing i get bits of grass stuck in the foam wing.I would think if this were to happen to a ultracote wing it would a big problem. Thanks

Jul 03, 2012, 03:18 PM	#3
Leadchucker AMA 7224 LSF 1832 SAM NFFS Joined Sep 2008 2,632 Posts	Thousands of such landings on grass with little to no effect on leading edge. It's pretty much a no worries senario. Lamp posts,no parking signs, automobiles, trees,mailboxes,guy wires,buildings,idlely unaware standingby pilots and other aircraft do have an varying negative effect.
	Latest blog entry: 1940 Megow Models Super Quaker

Jul 03, 2012, 09:56 PM	#5
ozmo01 Registered User USA, MO, Ozark Joined Nov 2006 1,244 Posts	LE Protection Hi, The dry grass, weeds, stubble and brush are a bit harsh on LEs but usually grass slides off of the slick covered wings (monokote etc). Foam may tend to be cut a bit by sharp dry grasses. The Paul Naton soup up for Radians calls for taping the LE with THIN packing type tape ( thin cheap light stuff NOT Duck tape type ). This approach would help I think. Anything more would be dead weight and a PITA. OzMo

Jul 10, 2012, 12:20 PM	#8
Zor Registered User Ontario,Canada Joined Feb 2007 8,823 Posts	Just my 2 cents If you cover the wings with woven fabric and have threads lengthwise along the leading edge there is little chance that those threads will break under tension. Fabric having tyically 80 threads per inch will have many threads along the curve of the leading edge. Just find how much tension you need to break a single thread of 40 gauge. Zor

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Jul 03, 2012, 02:57 PM	#2
Andy W RIP Ric Marietta, GA Joined Jun 1999 43,272 Posts	It's generally not a problem. Anything you put on there is going to mess up the airfoil.. ..a

Jul 03, 2012, 08:48 PM	#4
timography Electric Glider Nut Australia, WA, Perth Joined Feb 2012 182 Posts	agree with leadchucker on this one. you would have to be landing your RP (Radian Pro??) v.e.r.y. hard into grass for anything to start sticking into your wing LE. I have a Radian and 2x Radian Pro's and i've never had any problem with LE's getting damaged. If it continues to be a problem, perhaps you should be seeking somewhere different to fly that has a more suitable landing area (read: soft green grass - not a wheat field lol)

Jul 05, 2012, 04:14 PM	#6
Bad scientist Registered User Joined Feb 2009 102 Posts	Hand catch.

Jul 10, 2012, 02:31 AM	#7
David Hipperson Registered User Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia Joined Oct 2003 1,819 Posts	If it is a real concern to you an extra layer of film over the leading edge will help. I've flown both on soft grass and stubble without real problem but one or even two layers of film are unlikely to change the characteristics of the airfoil.