Gear leg fairing question

[trib]

When installing the gear leg fairings, I've noticed that the hinge is installed a sufficient distance from the trailing edge, such that the edge is fully closed when the pin is installed. My question is how is the trailing edge finished? The fairing continues on about 1/2" past the point of forming a knife edge at the trailing edge. Is this cut off and sanded to form a "knife edge" or is the extra material left? It seems the knife edge would be the best aerodynamically. By knife edge I refer to the top and bottom trailing edges forming a straight line from the fattest part of the chord to the trailing edge. The pictures I've seen when reviewing past threads on the leg fairings all seem to show only the fairing as received from Van's, with no modification to the trailing edge. If anyone took pictures after they finished the fairing construction these would be appreciated, particularly prior to painting so the hinge would also be visible.

thanks for the help

[gvgoff99]

The thinner fiberglass is, the weaker it is. Sanding the trailing edge to a knife is not done in order to keep a bit of bulk/strength. On mine I did take the 90 degree blunt edge and give it a slight rounding. Someone probably had sanded to a sharp edge but I would think that it would be fragile and chip easily.

[Ironflight]

Tim,

I'd have to go look to make sure, but I doubt that I did much other than make sure the trailing edges were straight. I am pretty sure I didn't make then "knife edged: as you describe, as I think that would make them pretty delicate. If you were to look close, I think the edge would be rounded a bit, but basically chopped off as the thickness of the two edges. Theoretically, this would be draggier than a knife edge, but I don't know by how much.

We're planning on building new fiberglass fairings for Louise's -6, which has the original metal fairings that are showing their age, so your question is a good one to get me thinking...

Paul

[noelf]

I'm not sure how this will turn out, but...

If the goal is to end up with a very thin trailing edge, you can fabricate one out of tape and stick it on. Start with some sticky tape...say 1.5 to 2in wide, and as long a strip as your gear leg fairing trailing edge.

Now, crease the center of the tape along the entire length. This crease will become the trailing edge. Carefully apply the tape so that one edge of the tape runs the length of the gear leg fairing on the outboard side, and the other edge runs on the inboard side. The amount of "overlap" on the fairing to the width of the tape will determine how far back from the fiberglass trailing edge the "new" relocated edge will occur.

If you happen to have some of the UHMW tape left over from the flap-to-wing trailing edge anti-scuff solution, that may work as well.