land-speed
[Top] [All Lists]

RE: Wickerbill or Gurney Flaps...

To: <rtmack@concentric.net>, <drmayf@teknett.com>, <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: Wickerbill or Gurney Flaps...
From: <Dale.Clay@mdhelicopters.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 07:09:19 -0700
Russ,

I think what you're referring to here is the, so called, "Hanford device" ,
which was sort of like oversize Gurney flaps on both top and bottom of the
wing.  Made for NASCAR like drafting. 

Dale C.

                
                Subject:        RE: Wickerbill or Gurney Flaps...

                Mayf--


                3.  Gurney Flaps (if I remember correctly) originated as a
device MANDATED
                by CART to control speeds (some say to "bunch-up the field")
on some ovals.
                Michigan was one.  I never saw one in use, but it seems like
I remember that
                they were basically a "board" turned sideways to the wind,
and their sole
                purpose was to slow the cars by creating drag-- not to aid
in downforce, at
                all.  I also think I remember that some of the drivers liked
them because
                they created such a strong slipstream that you could use the
"slingshot
                effect" for passing.  Some folks were saying that these
should have been
                mandated for the Ft. Worth CART race ("the race that didn't
happen").  I
                think that if they had been, M. Andretti might not have
"seen the elephant"
                and got them to cancel the race-- notice that he's retiring
right before IRL
                goes there!


                And then again-- I may be remembering this about the
wickerbills and Gurney
                flaps all wrong!

                Russ, #1226B

                

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to 
which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged 
material.  Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or 
taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or 
entities other than the intended recipient or employees of 
MD Helicopters, Inc. is prohibited.   If you received this in error, please
contact the sender by email and delete the material from any computer.

///  unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net  or try
///  http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
///  Archives at http://www.team.net/archive/land-speed
///  what is needed.  It isn't that difficult, folks.


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>