VG's Kitfox 5 Vortex Generator installation

[redbowen]

There has been a lot of discussion on VG's for the Kitfox and the results have not been positive for everyone. I put together this video covering the install and flight testing. Hopefully it is helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGzHZKRZi7s

[Av8r3400]

Looks promising...

[Floog]

Nice video, Bryan. Impressive numbers. You've got me fired up about going slower!

[jonstark]

On another type of aircraft I added a leading edge kit which lowered the stall speed which in turn robbed me of elevator authority in the flare. I had to really pull back briskly to have much elevator and timing in the flare was extremely difficult.
I added VGs just forward of the horizontal stab trailing edge. The results were very nice. It was like vernier control of the elevator throughout the flare.

Later on I added wing extensions which made roll response very heavy and sluggish.
I added VGs to that wing at 8% of the chord. Roll response and feel returned to normal. No change in stall speed beyond what the cuff and extensions had yielded.

VGs = win/win

Now on my IV 1050 in phase one. I’ve just sealed the elevator gaps without any noticeable change. Next flight will be with VGs on lower surface of horizontal. After that I’ll put them on the wing.

My IV weighs 525 empty and I’ve been unable to get it to break hard in stalls so far. It flies so slowly that the airspeed is rendered unreliable indicating 15 mph.

Fun exercise!

Jon

[Esser]

Food for thought. Stolspeed says to have decreased spacing of VGs at the wing tips. I did not do this and just did constant spacing as we have detached flapperons so it’s not likely the tip will stall with aileron input as well as it shouldn’t make aileron control any better at slow speeds.

Anyone else have some thoughts on this?

[Rodney]

Agree with Esser on constant spacing since we have flapperons

However, I’m going to move my VGs a little further forward to the
4% of the chord location.

It will be a while before I can collect some data. I’m in the
process of converting it to a tail dragger and I still don’t
have all the parts.

[Esser]

Yes mine are at 4% too

[Hockeystud87]

Are you guys using speedstol VG's on wings and stabilizer? I am looking to make this addition to my plane as well. I seem to break at about 45 on my model 4 speedster and would like to get that lower.

Seems like a easy days work and a few hundred bucks for some good performance.