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Cook11
 Post subject: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:43 pm 
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Are the exposed wheel pants on T-18's on the plans? Or can you purchase them?
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dickwolff
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:02 pm 
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Drawing 651L.

D
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Cook11
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 3:41 pm 
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Thanks! I don't own any drawings....I wanted to fabricate a set for my experimental Pacer that I own.
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Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:15 pm 
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If you could purchase them they would be priceless ! ??? Making them requires a great deal of skill with the torch/welder/English wheel . ;)

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Bill Williams
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 5:13 am 
The wheel pants are the JT design that can be built, no compound curves.
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leewwalton
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:34 am 
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Bills right the Thorrp style wheel pants are not difficult to make, like the rest of the airplane flat sides and a wrap around.

Does anyone have a copy or scan of the 651 drawing we can provide to our fellow homebuilder?

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
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Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:08 pm 
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I just looked at my 651L drawing as I was going to try and scan it/copy it , BUT it is a full size drawing ! Any suggestions ?

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Bill Williams
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 2:06 pm 
Rich, try this
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Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 3:14 pm 
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There you go Cook 11 ! Thanks to Bill Williams . :)

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Cook11
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:52 pm 
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Thanks for the help gentlemen!
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flyingfool
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 12:58 pm 
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I know that in past readings in sport aviation, they say that the geer leg fairings and wheel fairings can make a HUGE drag different/improvement.

What is the consensus (if any) on what farings and wheel pants are the best for drag?

I think the RV pants (Pressure recovery???) would seem like they have a lot of following and availability and I think are low drag.

What say you guys?
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fytrplt
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 1:38 pm 
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Actual test data: Wheel pants = 3 mph. Gear leg fairings = 7-8 mph.

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leewwalton
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 1:44 pm 
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There are basically 3 wheel pants being used on Thorps right now ... see pics.

Gary Green had identical Thorps at one time, same prop, same motor same paint .. one (older) had the standard wheel pants the other (newer) the RV pressure recovery style. They were both evenly matched.

I've had the Sam James style and the standard wheel pants on the same airplane and also did not see much difference. I think the 10mph claims from the RV folks are a tad bit questionable.


Attachments:
File comment: Standard Thorp most have these
standard_thorp_wheel_pant.jpg
standard_thorp_wheel_pant.jpg [ 19.71 KiB | Viewed 16343 times ]
File comment: Sam James
sam_james.jpg
sam_james.jpg [ 31.54 KiB | Viewed 16343 times ]
File comment: RV Style
rv_style.jpg
rv_style.jpg [ 14.9 KiB | Viewed 16343 times ]

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
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flyingfool
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:22 pm 
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Are Sam James off the shelf units or homebuilt?

They sure look better in my opinion than the RV style when seen in the picture above. The RV style is just too rounded/curvaceous given the relative straight lines or dare I say "boxy" style of the T-18.
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leewwalton
 Post subject: Re: Wheel fairings
PostPosted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:27 pm 
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http://www.jamesaircraft.com/

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
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