Wing Tips

[Mark Kramer]

Been looking around the forum for wing tip information. Lot of old stuff about Hoerner tips and the like, but couldn’t find any opinions about performance with and without the simple wingtip plates. Just wondering how much they contribute. I talked to Leonard about it, and his answer to me was to fly it without them, then with them and see for myself. That’s all well and good as long as the airplane is safe without them. I’m sure that they contribute some positive performance. The other info I am interested in are vortex generators. Are the plates and vortex generators a definite do, or not really necessary? Any thoughts? Oh, by the way, I’m talking about an XL I built from plans set # I-77. I live in Maine so it seemed fitting to name it Skeeter, that is if no one is already using it. Plan on flying it in the spring as soon as it warms up.

[leshoman]

I have the Legal Eagle XL. It flys much better without wing tip plates, have over 550 hours on it under all kinds of flying. The new LE i am flying is a shorter wing, almost the same as the LEUL and it flys great without wing tip plates.

[Tom H]

Our experience on LEU Treehugger is mixed on the wing tips.  Originally they were there as per plans.  Then, I made Hoerner tips which we did not get to test much, but initial results seemed that they help with lift.  As may be known, the airplane was landed in a tree one day, and that testing ended.  After rebuild and installing Verner engine we left all tips off, flies great.  The airplane does have a stronger engine now, so comparisons of how wing tips helped or hurt may not be valid.

We did install vortex generators, the little plastic ones, not sure of the "brand", when the airplane had a half VW.  The vortex generators did help with low speed control.  We think they work.

If you can somehow find the comments of Joe Spencer (Rockiedog) on his testing and modifications of wing tips, you will see he made a lot of changes and ended up with very minimal plate-like tips on the underside of the wing tips.

Hope that adds to the confusion!

[Mark Kramer]

Good information. I think I will fly it as is, and see how it goes. Can always add the end plates and vortex generators later. Keep it simple, keep it light. Just tinkering now, while waiting for winter to go away. Trying to talk my wife into moving to Texas. Want more flying time. My prop needs to go to Frank for a tune up anyway. Oh well, guess I gotta box it up and send it ups. Nice to see some of you guys still on this forum helping us newbies.

[Chuck in Indiana]

After rebuild and installing Verner engine

Hi, Tom. I have one of the new left turning Verners sitting in the hanger. Looking at some of Les's videos, he has had issues with motor mounts. Have you had any problems? Have any pix? 

[Tom H]

Hey Chuck, rather than respond to Verner engine mount questions in this thread about wing tips, I will start a new topic on Verner engine mounts.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Awesome..

[Chuck in Indiana]

Oh, yeah.. speaking of wing tips.. back in the day when Hoerner tips were all the rage, I knew a guy that put one (!) on his Tri Pacer. He said he couldn't tell any difference, including stalls. FWIW.