Q: Will the airplane top speed be slower with vortex generators?
A: No. We have flown a Baron with Dick Rutan at Edwards Air
Force Base and used radar tracking to measure speed at different altitudes. The
only conditions where we found a speed reduction was a 1 knot reduction in top
speed at 12,000 ft. at full power, and no change in top speed at 75% power.
There were no speed reductions at any other altitude. The small amount of drag
created by the vortex generators is offset by a cleaner flow of air from the
trailing edge of the wing.
Q: What is included in the Micro VG Kit
A: All Materials necessary for installation are included in the
Micro Vortex Generator Kit, with the exception of a ladder for installing VGs
on the tail, a roll of paper towels and bottle of isopropyl alcohol for
cleaning the wing surface. If the kit includes strakes, then an electric drill
and pop-riveting tool is also needed.
Q:
How long does the installation take?
A: Our
rule of thumb is the installation takes one day for a mechanic who has never
installed Micro VGs before.
Q: Who can perform the installation?
A: Any A&P
mechanic with minimal tools can perform the installation. An I.A. is needed to
return the aircraft to service with a 337 form after the installation of the
STC.
Q: Is the vortex generator kit compatible with other STC's?
A: Yes.
We cannot, of course, test every possible combination of STCs for compatibility
with our STC. However, our STC allows the installer to determine compatibility
with other STCs on a given aircraft. The installer can perform an Operational
Flight Check per FAR 91.407(b) after installation of the Micro VG Kit to
determine if there are any adverse characteristics created by the installation
of VGs along with another STC.
Q: How are the
Vortex Generators attached to the Airplane?
A: We use
Loctite Depend™ Adhesive to attach the Micro Vortex Generators. This is the
same adhesive used by Boeing Aircraft Company for many aerospace applications.
Our experience has been that only bird strikes produce sufficient force to
knock off Vortex Generators in normal operations.
Q: What if some
Vortex Generators are knocked off?
A: We include a
set of spare Micro Vortex Generators and Loctite Depend™ Adhesive to replace
any that are lost. This spares kit is to be kept with the airplane at all times.
Replacement Spares Kits can be purchased. Contact Micro to order.
Q: What about
flying in icing Conditions?
A: Ice does not
form far enough aft of the leading edge to affect the Vortex Generators. We
have confirmed this through extensive flight testing in severe icing
conditions, per FAA flight testing requirements.
Q: What are the
disadvantages of Vortex Generators?
A: The only
disadvantage is that the airplane wing is somewhat more difficult to wash.
However, if sufficient care is taken this is only a minor difficulty, and is
far outweighed by the safety and performance benefits.
Q: What do I do
if the airspeed indicator dial face you've sent isn't compatible with the
airspeed indicator on my Cessna twin?
A: Unfortunately,
there are so many different airspeed indicators out there we can't stock dial
faces for all possible configurations. We include a dial face only for the Self
Compensating True Airspeed Indicator. If you have a standard airspeed indicator
or a copilot's airspeed indicator, please remove the instrument from the
aircraft and have an instrument shop mark your current dial face using the dial
face drawing contained in the Option#2 envelope. The aircraft may still be
flown if it is in Option #1 configuration. Q: What do I do if one or more Micro VGs
ends up right on top of a rivet?
A: You
may move the Vortex Generator LATERALLY the shortest distance necessary to
clear small obstacles, or you may file the foot of the vortex generator to fit
over the obstacle.
Q: What do I do if one or more Micro VGs
overlap the edge of the deicing boot?
A: The
Vortex Generators should not overlap the deicing boot itself, but may overlap
the adhesive material extending out from the deicing boot. If this occurs, the
adhesive material may be carefully removed with an Xacto knife to provide a
clean surface for the vortex generators.
DO NOT CUT INTO THE DEICING BOOT ITSELF!!
