Vortelators Increase Speed

[n2099x]

In this month Cessna Owner Magazine there is a new product that claims a speed increase of 4-6mph. I called Aircraft Development and what they have is a tape with saw tooth edges. It is applied aft of the lap seams on the wings and vertical. It is also applied aft of some of the rivet lines. They say it will keep the air flowing smoother longer creating less turbulence therefore less drag more top speed. You can also apply it to struts and maybe the canard. It is a clear tape about .014 thick, when applied next to a seam it is hardly noticeable. I have completed the wings and vertical. Tomorrow I will see if I can tell the difference.

Glen

[n2099x]

After 2.5 hours of flying around today with my wings and vertical complete. It was hard to tell if it was faster or not, maybe 1-2mph. 140-141 KIAS @ 6,500msl, 23mp, 2350rpm, 71degrees, 30.03in the window, that’s within my normal range. Maybe a little higher than normal due to the oat, full fuel and 400lbs inside. I still have about 90 feet of vortelator tape left but I need to find what will remove the adhesive, I want to try some higher visibility places. Which may make up the difference in their claim of 4-6 mph vs. my say 2mph now.

Glen

[n2099x]

I have added Vortelator tape to the struts, horizontal, and canard. The air has been to rough for a good test. This morning while it was still cool 55 OAT at 5500msl, 30.03 and 23.5 squared which was full throttle I was at 144-145KIAS. I might be getting 3-4 mph but it's hard to tell on a short test. One thing I did notice was when I left PSP my wings were dusty. We flew through some rain but not enough for a good wash. It did leave straight streaks of dirt behind the Ventilator tape, which indicates the air was going straight as the Manufacture says it should. But the dirt caught in the little v’s of the tape is hard to clean.

Glen

[Pete of N978PB]

Glen,

As a matter of interest, how easy is it to remove the Vortelator tape once it is installed?

If the stuff is relatively inexpensive, and if the dirt that gathers in the little v's cannot be cleaned sufficiently, perhaps the tape can simply be replaced.

It would seem that if dirt fills the little v's, that may well adversely affect the desired goal of an improved air flow over the surface.

Pete

[n2099x]

Pete I think with a hose and spray nozzle it will wash out. Spray Wash Wax and a towel just won’t get in the cracks. Like many things on aircraft the paper work costs more than the tape. You can remove it with a tape gun but cleaning would definitely be easier. Once the tape is positioned it is rolled an then you are supposed to wait 72 hours then its stuck.

Glen

[n2099x]

Well I was fortunate enough to fly 3600kts last week still trying to gauge a speed increase. Looking back at past trips I averaged 150kts ground speed per tach hour. On this trip I averaged 152-153kts per tach hour. I’m no test pilot and don’t have great records but these are actual times so I would say it is a little faster. But it one tenth of an hour makes a half knot difference so exactly where was the tach? 152 would be the low and 153 would be the high using my method. Some of the time was in the rain, if you watch the strut you could see the water sticking clear up to the last half inch the problem is I don’t know where it used to separate. Someone go fly in the rain and watch your strut to see where the water separates from the trailing edge.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

Glen