Better wings, smoother flight

[2NG]

Hello all,

I'm in the middle of constructing an HL Super Piper Cub. From the review, that I have gotten is that the wings fold in mid. air due to it's strength. Do you guys have configurations to the wing to make it stronger? In your own experience in wing design.


Thanks much.
2NG

[Dave Robelen]

Hi 2NG,
The Cub offers a unique opportunity. Put those wing struts to work. Spruce strips with 1/16" wire hooks on the end will let them be removed, or you can put blind nuts in the fuse and wing and bolt them in place. It's kind of a shame to take a design that has nice long wings that are kind of thin, and add extra weight to make them bullet proof, when the struts will do splendidly with less added weight.
Cheers, Dave

[Richard Miller]

You guys,

Once, long ago, I sidled up to Ernie Schweitzer, the man who designed, among all the others, the SGS 2-22, and I asked him about the trade off related to the use of a strut-braced wing. He gave me a nice straight answer: 50% weight saving for the wing, 5% loss in lift for the glider.

-Richard

[2NG]

Hello Dave,

***The Cub offers a unique opportunity. Put those wing struts to work. Spruce strips with 1/16" wire hooks on the end will let them be removed***

Your right Dave, I don't know how I got so paranoid after reading one person's review in his Cub's flight. On my other Cubs, I never had any folding of the wings happened to me (Knock on wood) and yes! I will do as you say, and put it on this Cub. It's light as it is, and my extra power won't enable it from flying.

***you can put blind nuts in the fuse and wing and bolt them in place.***
Per-plan, this is what it called for: Will check this out Dave.

*note the center section (Haven't finished yet) a lot of the other flyer's flying this Cub. Stated that the problem starts in that section.

The Center balsa sheet is lite ply. I was thinking of going for the harder one's, what do you think?

Or by looking at it, what ideas do you have if you where in my place right now? Leave it as it is, and let the struts in-force it's strength and balance?

Hey Rich:) ***50% weight saving for the wing, 5% loss in lift for the glider. ***
Hummmm...2 votes for the struts:D

[Dave Robelen]

Hi 2NG,
That center iooks fine if you are going to use the struts. I am fond of the struts on a Cub both because of the weight savings and the fact that they are realistic. About the only way to fold wings is to do hard manuvers without backing off of the throttle. Do a loop? Full power up to the top and back to idle for the backside. Etc, etc, for other dive and recovery stuff.
Regards, Dave

[2NG]

***That center iooks fine if you are going to use the struts. I am fond of the struts on a Cub both because of the weight savings and the fact that they are realistic.***

Okay Dave, I will do that, it's costing me wasted time already. I appreciate your knowledge, as always, I thank you for you good advice, insights and info.

Thanks Dave, and Richard.

2NG - Flight report in two weeks:)