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High Flight Articles

Volume V No. 3 Page 38



TO COVER AN UNDERCAMBERED WING
By R.B. "Dick" Hershey

"Cover an undercambered wing? Who me? No way! Thanks but no thanks!" How many times have I heard that or words to that effect, so I tried it. Turned out to be easy, very easy...

Naturally one covers the bottom of a wing first, at least I do. So with the wing bottom side up (sort of hard to do it any other way) and covering of adequate size, properly positioned, stretch or pull that covering snug END to END of the wing in the bottom of the valley (camber if you prefer) and with your favorite stickum, iron or whatever, secure it both ends about 2/3 the width of that valley. About the same width the length of the wing stick it to the ribs and be sure that it is stuck. Caution!! If using dope for shrinking do not use a stickum that dope will dissolve.

Do not pull the covering over the leading or trailing edges except to remove maybe some wrinkles as it will lay there (mine did/does) and stick it where it lies. OK-OK, you have a contoured wing tip so, a little pulling or stretching may be in order there. Trim per usual procedure, turn over and cover the top as you usually do. Try it!! You might like it!! And, it may not be the chore you thought it might be. On my first try I used Ambroid cement with cloth and it was perfect... until the dope hit it, then start all over again!! Sometimes we have to learn the hard way.


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