Zenith 801
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I just flew the Zenith Aircraft demo 801 a week ago with your VG's installed on the elevator. With the original, short horizontal stabilizer & elevator & your VG's, there's no need to get the new longer stabilizer & elevator to get the control authority needed for slow landings. For heavier auto installations they still recommend the longer stabilizer & elevator.
Piloting skills may vary.
Rich
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801
I finally got around to measuring my take off and landing lengths with and without slats.
Conditions:
Temp 54 F, DP 52 F, Alt 29.78, Wind 5-7 MPH headwind
Weight 1690 lbs, Lycoming O-360 burning super unleaded, 82" long 40" pitch prop.
I got 4 tries:
With slats and VGs feathers
Take off Landing
165' 290
150 290
165 270
175 270
Average 164 280
No slats just VGs feathers
220 320
200 258
190 285
220 310
Average 207 293
If I can convince my wife that flying without slats is OK, my slats are for sale.
Bill, Alaska, USA
Later - I have now put the slats back on because it his
hunting season and I need the extra performance. I'm glad I have a
convertible airplane! The conversion takes about 20 minutes. It flys
different in each configuration but it flys fine in each configuration.
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801
I too have replaced the slats on my 801 with feathers VGs, and concur
with Bill that they will probably never go back on. I haven't
measured take off and landing distances but find Bill's results very
believable. You do not give up much in STOL performance but
definitely get another 5-10 mph at the top.
My wife also flies the plane and prefers it in this configuration.
Bob & Karen, Colorado, USA
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For the 801
For the main wing, place the VGs with there front tips 185mm forward of the main rivet line on the top of the spar. Space the first 15 VGs in from the wingtip at 60mm spacing, and the remainder at 90mm.
For the tail, place the Feathers on the elevator rather than the horizontal stab.
Place the front tips of the Feathers 140mm in front of the rivet line on the underside of the elevator
spar, at a spacing of 30mm.