Wing tip styles

[muleyman78]

I've been looking at wingtip options. I have zero fiberglass skills so forming my own is not an option. I havent been able to find any premade ( didnt see any in theBH store) so I started looking at other planes. Noticed alot of the Stol planes had this flat straight tip. I like the look and its simple to fab up. Anyone know what the advantages or disadvantage are?

p.s if you know of a place to buy tips let me know.

[marcusofcotton]

Bob Barrows sells them, advertised in the back of every Beartracks. Randbaircraft.com

[Bcone1381]

I've been looking at wingtip options. I have zero fiberglass skills so forming my own is not an option.

I would think that attending an EAA Sport Air Workshop weekend composites class would teach the skills and give one experience to build wing tips out of fiberglass, or carbon fiber, and open up a world of ideas and possibilities for other applications.

[jaredyates]

TQ Fiberglass Products
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[S Lathrop]

I have done a lot of fiberglass and composite work over many decades.

The cost of Bob's wing tips are less than what it will cost someone to make a pair of wing tips, including shipping charges.

I am very happy with what I bought from Bob.

[muleyman78]

Has anyone done the flat sheetmetal that protrudes out on all sides?

[muleyman78]

Has anyone done the flat sheetmetal that protrudes out on all sides?

[svyolo]

It is hard to do a good job on compound curves without vacuum bagging. I have done LOTS of glass work. Bobs tips are a steal. I am buying them.

Tip plates are easy too. You can get really fancy with the shapes, and people will think you are an aerodynamics expert.

[svyolo]

It is hard to do a good job on compound curves without vacuum bagging. I have done LOTS of glass work. Bob's tips are a steal. I am buying them. And, by the way, I am doing all interior panels in kevlar/CF, so I am set up to do glass work. But I am still buying Bob's tips as he is set up to make beautiful ones and sell them for a bargain.

Tip plates are easy too. You can get really fancy with the shapes, and people will think you are an aerodynamics expert. They do have a positive effect, but can also be a bit draggy. If I was going to do tip plates, I would do them on the lower side only, and fair them into the bottom of the wing. Semi-Hoerner style.

[Battson]

Has anyone done the flat sheetmetal that protrudes out on all sides?

Look at the NACA / NASA wingtip testing papers, the results are clear. Flat plates are fine on slower planes like that SuperSTOL, but much above 90kts they are less efficient (more draggy) than certain alternative designs.

P.S.
Before someone refers to the Airbus A320, I understand you can't compare wingtips on a swept wing with wingtips on a square wing.

[svyolo]

Yeah jet wingtips are optimized for cruise/climb AOA/airspeed , where the plane spends most of the time. STOL airplanes are trying to reduce stall/approach speed and maybe climb a bit better. Tips plates are cheap and easy. I can't fathom a guess on any improvement.