Zenith 801
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Placing the Stolspeed VGs on the 801 tail
Place the front tips of the VGs 140 mm in front of the spar rivet line underside of the elevator.
The VGsill be hidden in the slot just out of the airflow at cruise but extend into the airflow as soon as
the elevator is deflected upwards.
Spacing is with the 30mm template.
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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 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.
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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801
Thank you very much for working through slats and vg's.
I removed the slats and flew the 801 and increased 8 mph in cruise and push the nose down and did not have a dead stick feel.
My landings, I actually have a flare!
I have not rec'd the main wing vg's, but I am very excited about the outcome at this time.
The VG's should improve overall control. I will let you know.
Thanks again for your experimenting, after several years of flying the 801, the right answer has come.
I removed the slats and flew the 801 and increased 8 mph in cruise and push the nose down and did not have a dead stick feel.
My landings, I actually have a flare!
I have not rec'd the main wing vg's, but I am very excited about the outcome at this time.
The VG's should improve overall control. I will let you know.
Thanks again for your experimenting, after several years of flying the 801, the right answer has come.
Just an update, and you know this already, I have installed the main wing vgs and rotation at take off is smooth and I can do a flare without power and land soft and in control. Slat brackets coming off.
Thanks again, Glen
Thanks again, Glen
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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.
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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Here's a particularly good looking and simple solution for cutting back the brackets..
The highest point is 18mm from the skin, and the holes are 3/8 and 1/4" to give a feature look.