Matthew Dock
In Case You Missed It
Design Process: Slots and Slats
Opening a properly shaped slot between the lower and upper surface of the wing...
Ask the DAR
Is an aircraft’s empty weight required on the data plate? Does the gross weight change when an LSA is converted from conventional landing gear to floats? Should engine maintenance be entered in the builder’s logbook? Does the Minimax still qualify as an ultralight?
Return of the Turbo-Compound
Everything old is new again. Paul Lamar looks at the turbo-compound engine, developed in the post-WW-II era. Thrown over for jet engines, it may yet hold promise today as we search for more energy efficient ways to get the most out of increasingly expensive fuel.
Laminar- vs. Turbulent-Flow Airfoils
Airfoils break down into two general classes based on the behavior of the boundary layer.