When I purchased my Coupe 4 years ago, it was slug slow (88 mph). On Sid's recommendation I took off the cup landing lights on the landing gear and gained 5 mph, took off the tube gas caps on the wings and gained another 2 mph. I was then up to 95 mph and enjoying the extra speed. We then had a long chat about the snubber cable. I took it off and gained another 2 mph, but I didn't like the way it landed. The nose wheel hits much earlier (and faster) and it would have a tendency to wobble. It took more work to make my landings feel good and I gave up on the snubber removal after 6 months. I don't have the faring on the nose but since I don't like the feel of no snubber landings, I don't plan on trying that one. Sid is right, it does make for more speed but at a price. I still like the snubber cable for holding the nose wheel off the runway longer.
Fred Lamkey -----Original Message----- From: Ed Burkhead <[email protected]> To: ety <[email protected]> Sent: Sun, Nov 1, 2009 10:40 am Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Observation on snubber cable versus drag Fred Weick said in a recorded interview that having the fairing on the nose gear made almost exactly one (1) mph difference in speed. What we didn’t explore was, isn’t that 1 mph difference comparing the nose gear all the way extended with the scissors snugged up to the back of the strut tube? In that case, the scissors wouldn’t make much extra drag as it is hiding behind the tube. When the strut extension is limited, then you have some shortening of the tube, hence less drag. But you also have the scissors hanging way out where it commits drag all on its own. Could there be as much as two (2) mph difference between having the nose gear extended with the fairing versus having it 2/3rds down with the tube and fairing both providing their maximum aerodynamic drag? Just wondering. Ed
