WurlyBird
Well-Known Member
I had what I believe to be a great idea hit me suddenly the other night as I was trying to fall asleep but couldn't stop thinking of things to do to my plane. Does that happen to anyone else? Any way, I bought lift strut fairings for my Kitfox but they are kind of heavy, probably more then 5 lb/ea, and I was thinking I could make some lighter. I did a search and found this old thread which is so close to my idea
https://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/light-stuff-area/4669-lexan-strut-fairings.html
But my plane is a little faster so I want something a little sturdier and I am addicted to vacuum bagging carbon fiber any time I get the chance so here is the way it came to me. Fashion a long board, as long as the tube you want to fair, that is triangular in profile but with a rounded tip (I will not go into much detail, I made a drawing). Vacuum bag 1 or 2 layers of carbon, pending experimentation, on this plug for each strut. Place around strut and glue the trailing edge together to form fairing. By my very rough calculations a 9 foot fairing made of 2 layers would weigh a little more half a pound. Here's the picture.
My primary question is this, how smooth does the surface of a fairing need to be? I have found that I really enjoy the aesthetics of carbon fiber laid up with a matte finish. I do this by using a fine nylon peel ply on the finished surface. It has a non reflective (not glaring anyway) surface while having most of the appeal of carbon. So how much would this texture affect the flow around the fairing?
Any other comments on the idea are also welcome.
https://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/light-stuff-area/4669-lexan-strut-fairings.html
But my plane is a little faster so I want something a little sturdier and I am addicted to vacuum bagging carbon fiber any time I get the chance so here is the way it came to me. Fashion a long board, as long as the tube you want to fair, that is triangular in profile but with a rounded tip (I will not go into much detail, I made a drawing). Vacuum bag 1 or 2 layers of carbon, pending experimentation, on this plug for each strut. Place around strut and glue the trailing edge together to form fairing. By my very rough calculations a 9 foot fairing made of 2 layers would weigh a little more half a pound. Here's the picture.
My primary question is this, how smooth does the surface of a fairing need to be? I have found that I really enjoy the aesthetics of carbon fiber laid up with a matte finish. I do this by using a fine nylon peel ply on the finished surface. It has a non reflective (not glaring anyway) surface while having most of the appeal of carbon. So how much would this texture affect the flow around the fairing?
Any other comments on the idea are also welcome.
