Vortex Generators
Vortex Generators
anyone have any experience with VG's? i was reading about them the other day. supposed to take like 5 mph off stall speed, give better aileron control, add more to usefull load etc....is there merit in these statements? they were $700 for a champ. also where do they attach to? not the fabric right? thank, Logan
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Nathan K. Hammond
- Posts: 2371
- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2004 00:22
- Location: Danville, KY (DVK)
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Logan,
No experience on a Champ, but have flown with them on a couple Super Cub's and Cessna's. We put set on an IO-540 powered cub and have a blast with it, the power on stall went from 34 to 28 MPH (GPS)
Literally hanging on the prop at about a 45-60 degree angle, fat, dumb and happy!! 
And the handling improvement is the best, positive with no mush all the way to the stall break. I'm sure they allow a higher gross because it reduces the stall speed. A must if your working off of short/unimproved strips. Couple different folks making them; Micro and BLR but I think Micro is the olny one with a STC for Aeronca's.
As for attachment, you got it Z, they attach to the fabric. the kits from Micro are really nice, come with a templete, glue, and 5 or 6 extra VG's. The templete is actually a long peice of tape with cut outs where the VG's go. you simply locate the peice of tape, carefully scuff the paint where the VG goes and glue it on. Pretty straight forward, and doesn't take long to put on 4-5 hrs. They go on the wings, underside of the horizontal and fin.... at least on a C172.
Something I'm definitely going to put on, when I recover the wings!
nkh
..... call Micro and tell them your putting the VG's on yourself and I think you can get them at wholesale... like maybe $450, or so I've been told.
No experience on a Champ, but have flown with them on a couple Super Cub's and Cessna's. We put set on an IO-540 powered cub and have a blast with it, the power on stall went from 34 to 28 MPH (GPS)
Literally hanging on the prop at about a 45-60 degree angle, fat, dumb and happy!! And the handling improvement is the best, positive with no mush all the way to the stall break. I'm sure they allow a higher gross because it reduces the stall speed. A must if your working off of short/unimproved strips. Couple different folks making them; Micro and BLR but I think Micro is the olny one with a STC for Aeronca's. As for attachment, you got it Z, they attach to the fabric. the kits from Micro are really nice, come with a templete, glue, and 5 or 6 extra VG's. The templete is actually a long peice of tape with cut outs where the VG's go. you simply locate the peice of tape, carefully scuff the paint where the VG goes and glue it on. Pretty straight forward, and doesn't take long to put on 4-5 hrs. They go on the wings, underside of the horizontal and fin.... at least on a C172.
Something I'm definitely going to put on, when I recover the wings!
nkh
..... call Micro and tell them your putting the VG's on yourself and I think you can get them at wholesale... like maybe $450, or so I've been told.
7AC-5691
Super 85-12F @ DVK
Super 85-12F @ DVK
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Guest
I spoke to a guy on Sunday who installed them on his 7EC. He hasn't put many hours on since but he noticed a substantial difference in handling. At low (really low) speeds, he says the ailerons are very responsive; something not true before he installed them.
One thing he didn't necessarily care for is that he has a hard time making it slip. He claimed that the rudder won't hold it, and the Champ simply slides off to the side. This is one that I've never heard of before.
I intend to install them on '57B, since I like to play around at the bottom end of the airspeed envelope. Safe is good!
Jon B.
One thing he didn't necessarily care for is that he has a hard time making it slip. He claimed that the rudder won't hold it, and the Champ simply slides off to the side. This is one that I've never heard of before.
I intend to install them on '57B, since I like to play around at the bottom end of the airspeed envelope. Safe is good!
Jon B.