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Which Airfoil?

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Zoomzoooie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2011
Messages
170
Location
BC Canada
I am working on designing a highwing design which is much like the Kitfox and Highlander in construction. If I was to use the same type wing construction, I would go with the GA30U-612, but I have decided to go with convention all aluminim spar and rib design instead of the round tube spar and wood rib design they use. Because the airfoil used in that construction is relatively thin, I cannot use that airfoil with the conventional I beam spars due to the height of the spar and the need to have about 27.5" distance between spars.

I found a ready made rib with the Goe387 airfoil. The construction of the rib is very simple, which leads me to wanting to build the ribs myself. This opens up a wide choice of airfoils to choose from.

Since my design is a highwing bushplane with conventional flaps and ailerons with power ranging from 80HP - 130HP and a long prop, I want the best possible STOL performance without going to the extremes of LE slats and have the lowest possible stall speed and best cruise speed. The wings will have vortex generators and the wing tips will be drooped horton style. I am concidering double slotted flaps to help keep the airflow over the flaps. The wing design presently has cord of 46" with a span of 32-34 feet for a higher aspect ratio to reduce drag and still meet the minimum wing area requirement of 120sq ft. Gross weight is 1200lb and empty should be 600lbs - 700lbs.

I have been looking at a few airfoils, but I don't know a lot about airfoil aerodynmics, so I would like to have an opinion from anyone who really knows which airfoil would best suit my needs.
This is the short list of the airfoils I've looked into so far. Feel free to add to the list.
Goe387
GA30A-615
GA30-613.5

Also what is the best angle of incidence for each airfoil with the horizontal stabilizer at zero degrees and 2 degrees of down thrust?

ZZ
 
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