Flight without empennage fairing

[Strikhedonia]

I need to send my empennage fairing back to the painters but I have some trips planned. I'm thinking it is safe to fly without this fairing but I thought best to ask the brain trust, what does everyone think?

 

[n700jl]

No!

Just buy another one and fit it to fly in the mean time. I wouldnt want to be the test pilot for that!

 

[rv8ch]

I need to send my empennage fairing back to the painters but I have some trips planned. I'm thinking it is safe to fly without this fairing but I thought best to ask the brain trust, what does everyone think?

I think it's a really risky thing to do. Airflow is strange, you don't want to test this, particularly with your family on board.

 

[airguy]

I'm thinking I would treat that as a Phase I opportunity. You are significantly altering the airflow over a very sensitive control area.

 

[Bill Boyd]

Hard no.

I'd jury-rig one from scrap metal and duct tape before I flew with that piece missing, even without my family aboard.

 

[greghughespdx]

I need to send my empennage fairing back to the painters but I have some trips planned. I'm thinking it is safe to fly without this fairing but I thought best to ask the brain trust, what does everyone think?

No. Changes most all of the V speed numbers and flight dynamics. Bad idea.

 

[Strikhedonia]

Thank you for all the responses, new fairing on order.

 

[ronschreck]

Good call.

Once again proving the value of the VAF forum!

 

[RV10inOz]

Paint it when you get back. Why make it more complicated than it needs to be.

 

[Strikhedonia]

The issue is I fly weekly and have long cross countries every 2-3 weeks and I don't want to risk the painters taking a long time. $170 (with shipping) for a new fairing it was worth it to not have my plane down.