Wheel pant modification

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Wheel pant modification

Postby Mikeacro » Fri Mar 27, 2020 9:45 pm

I recently did this inner wheelpant mod to my Sonex #179. Still need to do the finish filling and sanding. Test flights pre and post modification shows a net gain of 3 mph indicated at 2500’ and 3000 rpm. Not a lot but I like the looks.

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Re: Wheel pant modification

Postby builderflyer » Sat Mar 28, 2020 12:59 am

Mikeacro wrote:I recently did this inner wheelpant mod to my Sonex #179. Still need to do the finish filling and sanding. Test flights pre and post modification shows a net gain of 3 mph indicated at 2500’ and 3000 rpm.


Good work, Mike. I would have liked to see a similar speed increase when I changed from the Sonex wheel pants to the RV pressure recovery pants but I saw no such increase. In regards to my airplane, I usually tell others to do it for the looks, not for the performance.

Thanks for sharing...........others may want to follow your example.

Art,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sonex taildragger #95,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Jabiru 3300 #261
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Re: Wheel pant modification

Postby Bryan Cotton » Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:20 am

Nicely done Mike! I'd like to do something similar when I'm in the tinkering phase. Need to focus on getting to the flying stage first.
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Re: Wheel pant modification

Postby WesRagle » Sat Mar 28, 2020 2:08 pm

Hi Mike,

Yep, pretty cool. That seems like a more straight forward cleanup than substituting wheel pants. Especially if you're running mechanical brakes.

Wes
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