Need Your Opinion

For general discussion of the Just Aircraft family of aircraft.
Includes: Highlander, Escapade, Summit and SuperSTOL.
Post Reply
User avatar
scubarider2
Topic Moderator
Posts: 1085
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:03 pm
Location: Cleveland, GA

Need Your Opinion

Post by scubarider2 »

Greetings everyone! This is your moderator needing some opinions on wheel pants on my Highlander/Escapade. Here is a picture of the plane. The question is, do you think they do any good at all for cruise speed. I put them on to see if they would give me 5+ mph more but over time not sure that has happened. I know they look "speedy" but the cost in extra weight may offset any gains in less drag. Not sure our planes go fast enough to get any benefit. It is a chore to clean them after flight, add air to the tires when needed and doing a complete pre-flight check on them. They are not easy to put on and take off so I really don't want to take them off and put them back on again to judge the difference. I would rather hear from each of you who know more about the drag ratios.
Thanks everyone!
Dennis
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Live as though you were going to die tomorrow, learn as though you were going to live forever...
User avatar
BDA
Veteran Member
Posts: 707
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 11:25 am
Location: Kenai Alaska

Re: Need Your Opinion

Post by BDA »

I think the break even point is 120mph for "reasonable size tires"

Beyond the break even - how much faster do you have to be going to gain appreciable mph ?

Total W.A.G. here - I think you would have to be doing 140+ to gain 5mph with just wheel pants... just a guess
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
User avatar
scubarider2
Topic Moderator
Posts: 1085
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:03 pm
Location: Cleveland, GA

Re: Need Your Opinion

Post by scubarider2 »

That is kind of my thought that I had to be going faster to begin with to see any real difference. *sigh*
Am contemplating removing them...
Dennis
Live as though you were going to die tomorrow, learn as though you were going to live forever...
User avatar
BDA
Veteran Member
Posts: 707
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 11:25 am
Location: Kenai Alaska

Re: Need Your Opinion

Post by BDA »

Put some Bushwheels on there, THEN the pants will make a real difference!

Cool Paint too by the way.
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
av8rps
Veteran Member
Posts: 480
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 5:01 pm

Re: Need Your Opinion

Post by av8rps »

Drag reduction is drag reduction. Granted, reducing drag is more obvious on faster aircraft, but having a cleaner airframe on any aircraft will provide not only more speed overall, but also better climb and fuel efficiency. And I just can't imagine the little weight increase of those pants would make much difference either, as a Highlander will fly just great with the addition of heavy bush tires, heavy wheel skis, and even 250 lb amphib floats.

Obviously there are those pesky issues of cleaning and access to valve stems, etc. But after all the effort you went to fitting wheel pants on your plane I can't personally see any reason to remove them unless you decided to start booney bashing, as then the pants are likely to get tore up. And if you decide to start booney bashing, I personally think putting big tires on a trike will look funny and you're likely to get a lot of ribbing from the hairy-chested-bush-pilot types :wink:

And then there's the other side of the argument, we already have a bunch of big tired Highlanders and Super STOLS out there to represent that market. Your plane is unique and interesting, and I especially like how you use it to get around. I have many times shown people your posts as not everyone wants to booney bash, many want to travel and many don't want to learn a taildragger.

So overall I really like the fact that your plane is very different than the rest of the fleet, and I really like how it represents another use for the design. Plus, I think it's cool :D
User avatar
Johnny C!
Veteran Member
Posts: 826
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:55 am
Location: Brevard, NC

Re: Need Your Opinion

Post by Johnny C! »

I think you should take them
off & send them to me!

They really look good, and I
still intend to add them to
Lima Charlie.

John
There are many things that happen really fast when you are
flying an airplane. There is no sense in rushing any of the others.

I would much rather be looking down at the runway, than up at it.

Duane Sorenson & Rick Norton Gone West 6/8/09. Godspeed
AV8R Paul
Veteran Member
Posts: 578
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:49 pm
Location: Garland, Texas

Re: Need Your Opinion

Post by AV8R Paul »

I doubt you will see more than a 5 MPH increase in speed.
AV8R Paul
Certified Light Sport Repairman LSRM-A
User avatar
scubarider2
Topic Moderator
Posts: 1085
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:03 pm
Location: Cleveland, GA

Re: Need Your Opinion

Post by scubarider2 »

Thanks everyone. You know sometimes you just get a wild thought and if you are lucky you wait a bit before acting on it. I believe you are right, I will leave them on the plane. They do look good if I do say so myself. :mrgreen:
SORRY JOHNNY!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Dennis
Live as though you were going to die tomorrow, learn as though you were going to live forever...
User avatar
Johnny C!
Veteran Member
Posts: 826
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:55 am
Location: Brevard, NC

Re: Need Your Opinion

Post by Johnny C! »

I have had the molds and brackets done for the mains for
a few years. I have started on the brackets for the nose,
which will lead me to the mold for the nose. After
tweaking my prop yesterday, it has motivated me
to get them finished. It will make for a nice winter
project.

I am going to keep the lower edge high enough to
access the valve stems.


I'm glad you are keeping them on.

John
There are many things that happen really fast when you are
flying an airplane. There is no sense in rushing any of the others.

I would much rather be looking down at the runway, than up at it.

Duane Sorenson & Rick Norton Gone West 6/8/09. Godspeed
Post Reply

Return to “Just Aircraft”