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What is the function of the leading edge strip?
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I understand the function of every wing part labelled above except the leading edge strip,what is its use in a fabric wing and will the wing function normally without it,if removed?
aircraft-design wing aircraft-structures
edited 5 hours ago
Federico♦
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Jessica Ham
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up vote
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I understand the function of every wing part labelled above except the leading edge strip,what is its use in a fabric wing and will the wing function normally without it,if removed?
aircraft-design wing aircraft-structures
edited 5 hours ago
Federico♦
24.8k14100151
asked 5 hours ago
Jessica Ham
464
New contributor
Jessica Ham is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I understand the function of every wing part labelled above except the leading edge strip,what is its use in a fabric wing and will the wing function normally without it,if removed?
aircraft-design wing aircraft-structures
edited 5 hours ago
Federico♦
24.8k14100151
asked 5 hours ago
Jessica Ham
464
New contributor
Jessica Ham is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I understand the function of every wing part labelled above except the leading edge strip,what is its use in a fabric wing and will the wing function normally without it,if removed?
aircraft-design wing aircraft-structures
aircraft-design wing aircraft-structures
edited 5 hours ago
Federico♦
24.8k14100151
asked 5 hours ago
Jessica Ham
464
New contributor
Jessica Ham is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 5 hours ago
Federico♦
24.8k14100151
asked 5 hours ago
Jessica Ham
464
New contributor
Jessica Ham is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 5 hours ago
Federico♦
24.8k14100151
edited 5 hours ago
Federico♦
24.8k14100151
edited 5 hours ago
Federico♦
24.8k14100151
24.8k14100151
asked 5 hours ago
Jessica Ham
464
New contributor
Jessica Ham is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Jessica Ham
464
asked 5 hours ago
Jessica Ham
464
464
New contributor
Jessica Ham is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Jessica Ham is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Jessica Ham is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
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oldest
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up vote
3
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A wing's leading edge is a place where you really want to have a particular shape and a nice, smooth surface. Stretched coverings (I've done this a fair amount with monokote and other heat-shrink coatings on model airplanes) suffer in this regard since, between ribs, the covering will bend inward and alter the shape of the leading edge (and, locally, the chord of the wing). Also, since the covering is all one piece, the shape of the leading edge will also influence the shape of the rest airfoil as you go aft along the chord line, so maintaining the shape that you actually want is important (unless you want to make tubercule wings: https://secretofflight.wordpress.com/leading-edge-tubercles-2/). Having a solid leading edge strip does just this, ensuring that the leading edge of the wing has the desired shape and forms a smooth surface for the covering.
This part is more conjecture, but the leading edge of the wing will also receive a lot of wear, be it from FOD, bugs, or cleaning off bugs. When I flew sailplanes, the leading edge of our wings would constantly be filled with bug carcasses and we'd be cleaning them off frequently. To this end, I'd think that having a solid leading edge would be an easy way to preventing damage during the cleaning process. However, sailplane pilots care about that more than powered aircraft, I think, so, unless you're looking at an old Schweizer 2-22 wing, this probably isn't too much of a concern.
answered 35 mins ago
Marius
2,335617
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up vote
1
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To add to Marius's answer, in some aircraft the leading edge "strip" will be a thin sheet of plywood that starts on top at the front spar, wraps around the leading edge ribs, then ends at the bottom of the front spar.
It forms a "D" shape if you look at it from a wing tip and use your imagination. The plywood is firmly attached (glue, nails) to the top and bottom of the front spar as well as the ribs.
It is very strong and strengthens the wing considerably - especially in preventing the wing from twisting in flight.
answered 23 mins ago
Dan Pichelman
5,65112437
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
A wing's leading edge is a place where you really want to have a particular shape and a nice, smooth surface. Stretched coverings (I've done this a fair amount with monokote and other heat-shrink coatings on model airplanes) suffer in this regard since, between ribs, the covering will bend inward and alter the shape of the leading edge (and, locally, the chord of the wing). Also, since the covering is all one piece, the shape of the leading edge will also influence the shape of the rest airfoil as you go aft along the chord line, so maintaining the shape that you actually want is important (unless you want to make tubercule wings: https://secretofflight.wordpress.com/leading-edge-tubercles-2/). Having a solid leading edge strip does just this, ensuring that the leading edge of the wing has the desired shape and forms a smooth surface for the covering.
This part is more conjecture, but the leading edge of the wing will also receive a lot of wear, be it from FOD, bugs, or cleaning off bugs. When I flew sailplanes, the leading edge of our wings would constantly be filled with bug carcasses and we'd be cleaning them off frequently. To this end, I'd think that having a solid leading edge would be an easy way to preventing damage during the cleaning process. However, sailplane pilots care about that more than powered aircraft, I think, so, unless you're looking at an old Schweizer 2-22 wing, this probably isn't too much of a concern.
answered 35 mins ago
Marius
2,335617
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
A wing's leading edge is a place where you really want to have a particular shape and a nice, smooth surface. Stretched coverings (I've done this a fair amount with monokote and other heat-shrink coatings on model airplanes) suffer in this regard since, between ribs, the covering will bend inward and alter the shape of the leading edge (and, locally, the chord of the wing). Also, since the covering is all one piece, the shape of the leading edge will also influence the shape of the rest airfoil as you go aft along the chord line, so maintaining the shape that you actually want is important (unless you want to make tubercule wings: https://secretofflight.wordpress.com/leading-edge-tubercles-2/). Having a solid leading edge strip does just this, ensuring that the leading edge of the wing has the desired shape and forms a smooth surface for the covering.
This part is more conjecture, but the leading edge of the wing will also receive a lot of wear, be it from FOD, bugs, or cleaning off bugs. When I flew sailplanes, the leading edge of our wings would constantly be filled with bug carcasses and we'd be cleaning them off frequently. To this end, I'd think that having a solid leading edge would be an easy way to preventing damage during the cleaning process. However, sailplane pilots care about that more than powered aircraft, I think, so, unless you're looking at an old Schweizer 2-22 wing, this probably isn't too much of a concern.
answered 35 mins ago
Marius
2,335617
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
A wing's leading edge is a place where you really want to have a particular shape and a nice, smooth surface. Stretched coverings (I've done this a fair amount with monokote and other heat-shrink coatings on model airplanes) suffer in this regard since, between ribs, the covering will bend inward and alter the shape of the leading edge (and, locally, the chord of the wing). Also, since the covering is all one piece, the shape of the leading edge will also influence the shape of the rest airfoil as you go aft along the chord line, so maintaining the shape that you actually want is important (unless you want to make tubercule wings: https://secretofflight.wordpress.com/leading-edge-tubercles-2/). Having a solid leading edge strip does just this, ensuring that the leading edge of the wing has the desired shape and forms a smooth surface for the covering.
This part is more conjecture, but the leading edge of the wing will also receive a lot of wear, be it from FOD, bugs, or cleaning off bugs. When I flew sailplanes, the leading edge of our wings would constantly be filled with bug carcasses and we'd be cleaning them off frequently. To this end, I'd think that having a solid leading edge would be an easy way to preventing damage during the cleaning process. However, sailplane pilots care about that more than powered aircraft, I think, so, unless you're looking at an old Schweizer 2-22 wing, this probably isn't too much of a concern.
answered 35 mins ago
Marius
2,335617
A wing's leading edge is a place where you really want to have a particular shape and a nice, smooth surface. Stretched coverings (I've done this a fair amount with monokote and other heat-shrink coatings on model airplanes) suffer in this regard since, between ribs, the covering will bend inward and alter the shape of the leading edge (and, locally, the chord of the wing). Also, since the covering is all one piece, the shape of the leading edge will also influence the shape of the rest airfoil as you go aft along the chord line, so maintaining the shape that you actually want is important (unless you want to make tubercule wings: https://secretofflight.wordpress.com/leading-edge-tubercles-2/). Having a solid leading edge strip does just this, ensuring that the leading edge of the wing has the desired shape and forms a smooth surface for the covering.
This part is more conjecture, but the leading edge of the wing will also receive a lot of wear, be it from FOD, bugs, or cleaning off bugs. When I flew sailplanes, the leading edge of our wings would constantly be filled with bug carcasses and we'd be cleaning them off frequently. To this end, I'd think that having a solid leading edge would be an easy way to preventing damage during the cleaning process. However, sailplane pilots care about that more than powered aircraft, I think, so, unless you're looking at an old Schweizer 2-22 wing, this probably isn't too much of a concern.
answered 35 mins ago
Marius
2,335617
answered 35 mins ago
Marius
2,335617
answered 35 mins ago
Marius
2,335617
answered 35 mins ago
Marius
2,335617
2,335617
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
To add to Marius's answer, in some aircraft the leading edge "strip" will be a thin sheet of plywood that starts on top at the front spar, wraps around the leading edge ribs, then ends at the bottom of the front spar.
It forms a "D" shape if you look at it from a wing tip and use your imagination. The plywood is firmly attached (glue, nails) to the top and bottom of the front spar as well as the ribs.
It is very strong and strengthens the wing considerably - especially in preventing the wing from twisting in flight.
answered 23 mins ago
Dan Pichelman
5,65112437
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
To add to Marius's answer, in some aircraft the leading edge "strip" will be a thin sheet of plywood that starts on top at the front spar, wraps around the leading edge ribs, then ends at the bottom of the front spar.
It forms a "D" shape if you look at it from a wing tip and use your imagination. The plywood is firmly attached (glue, nails) to the top and bottom of the front spar as well as the ribs.
It is very strong and strengthens the wing considerably - especially in preventing the wing from twisting in flight.
answered 23 mins ago
Dan Pichelman
5,65112437
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
To add to Marius's answer, in some aircraft the leading edge "strip" will be a thin sheet of plywood that starts on top at the front spar, wraps around the leading edge ribs, then ends at the bottom of the front spar.
It forms a "D" shape if you look at it from a wing tip and use your imagination. The plywood is firmly attached (glue, nails) to the top and bottom of the front spar as well as the ribs.
It is very strong and strengthens the wing considerably - especially in preventing the wing from twisting in flight.
answered 23 mins ago
Dan Pichelman
5,65112437
To add to Marius's answer, in some aircraft the leading edge "strip" will be a thin sheet of plywood that starts on top at the front spar, wraps around the leading edge ribs, then ends at the bottom of the front spar.
It forms a "D" shape if you look at it from a wing tip and use your imagination. The plywood is firmly attached (glue, nails) to the top and bottom of the front spar as well as the ribs.
It is very strong and strengthens the wing considerably - especially in preventing the wing from twisting in flight.
answered 23 mins ago
Dan Pichelman
5,65112437
answered 23 mins ago
Dan Pichelman
5,65112437
answered 23 mins ago
Dan Pichelman
5,65112437
answered 23 mins ago
Dan Pichelman
5,65112437
5,65112437
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Jessica Ham is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jessica Ham is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jessica Ham is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jessica Ham is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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