----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----About that golf ball:
The reason for dimples on a golf ball, or fur on a tennis ball is certainly to make it go further.
The principle is opposite to the lift needed over a wing.
Do not take a hammer to your wings, it will not work.
What the fur or dimples do is reduce the boundary layer. What this means is that the layer of air stuck to the ball is thinner than a grradually dissipating boundary layer over a clean aerodinamic wing. All efforts are made to keep the laminar flow over a wing as far and evenly as possible to generate lift.
The use of vortex generators creates small streams of turbulent air across a wing which cuts the stable air over the smooth parts of the wing into "slabs" that remain stabe at lower speeds an higher angles of attack.
Basically, for flight a good thick stable boundary layer means laminar flow over the wing and lift. Turbulent air generates little or no lift.. If you have rime ice on your wing, it disrupts laminar flow just like dimples would. Your wing will go faster because it is no longer slowed down by lift.
AF
Disclaimer:
Opinions offered by this member are to be taken as "straight from the horse's mouth". Be warned however, that at times the horse may appear to be facing the other way...
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