Thursday, August 8, 2013

Air Leaks Create Drag

Spend time to close possible air leaks from the cockpit. When air escapes, it creates drag.


The piper archer has a large screen covered exit on the belly under the rear seats. With that said, I have the same set up you are planning and have no issues with the air escaping through the baggage bulkhead. I have insulation on the bulkhead, but it doesn't block the corregations

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Bill Peyton



Early in the build I went to great efforts to try to eliminate air drafts n the cockpit. The approach that I took was somewhat different than most of the hangar talk that I had been hearing. Instead of trying to block the air from infiltering the cabin from the tail cone (nearly impossible) we spent time sealing the areas that the air tries to escape the cocpit. These areas are possibly, (but not proven) firewall penetrations, any wing root openings there is low pressure here, aleron control penetrations, door seal, etc. By doing this you can shut the fresh air inlets and feel no draft in flight...none. Also noticable is, I really don't think I get as muvh air volume in the naca vents as other -10's that I have flown but that's what the air conditioning is for.

The main reason for this was not so much for draft prevention however that was an added benefit, but for drag reduction. Any air that "leaks" in has to "leak" out and causes drag in the process.


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