short vs long wingtips?

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short vs long wingtips?

Postby 13brv3 » Wed Oct 21, 2015 9:18 am

Greetings,

Just out of curiosity, how many people plan to use the short vs long wingtips? Has Sonex provided any performance numbers comparing the two? Of course the shorter tips probably have a slightly higher stall speed, maybe slightly faster cruise, and a little faster roll rate. I just wonder how much the difference really is.

I'm thinking there probably isn't a big difference, but on the practical side, someone did mention that the shorter tips allowed them to have a lower folded height for either a trailer or garage door (can't remember which it was).

Cheers,
Rusty (still debating turbo vs non-turbo)
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Re: short vs long wingtips?

Postby fastj22 » Wed Oct 21, 2015 9:37 am

I believe the longer tips are for plus sized pilots who want to keep the Onex LSA legal. Something to do with stall speed.

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Re: short vs long wingtips?

Postby 13brv3 » Wed Oct 21, 2015 10:23 am

fastj22 wrote:I believe the longer tips are for plus sized pilots who want to keep the Onex LSA legal. Something to do with stall speed.


You may be right. I'm 6-1 and 180lbs, so maybe I can qualify for the short wingtips 8-)

Cheers,
Rusty
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Re: short vs long wingtips?

Postby MichaelFarley56 » Wed Oct 21, 2015 12:22 pm

I believe you're fine either way Rusty. If memory serves, the general guideline is that, for pilots over 200 lbs, it's recommended they go with the long wingtips so there's no concern with the LSA stall speed requirements. For pilots under that limit, they can choose to go either way. As you said the short wingtips offer faster roll rates and the airplane is a little shorter with the wings folded. The longer wings offer slower stall speeds.
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Re: short vs long wingtips?

Postby 13brv3 » Wed Oct 21, 2015 12:46 pm

I suspect you're right Mike. The difference in empty and max gross weight allows for a pretty big pilot, and I should fall well under that if I don't make the plane too heavy adding other stuff (turbo, diff brakes, etc).

FWIW, I asked Sonex via email after starting this thread, and they said the longer wingtips were necessary to remain sport pilot compliant. I'm assuming that means at max gross weight though.

Fortunately, the wingtips are something I can decide on later, or not. I can easily imagine using screws to attach them, and being able to try both sizes. My more immediate decision is turbo or non-turbo, since I need to get the engine and prop ordered.

Cheers,
Rusty
Rusty
Onex- Rotax 912 (130 hours and counting)
Fixed wing, gyroplane, A&P
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