The International Cessna 170 Association

Greetings and Happy Holidays to all !

I'm considering installing micro vgs on my 1952 Cessna 170B. I bought it with a Bush STOL kit and have flown it for over 50 hours since picking it up. I've read in numerous places that the micro vg's increase control surface response considerably. I like that even though I can fly at just about 40MPH (on the indicator) clean without stalling. That's good, but I like the idea of increased aileron and elevator effectiveness at those speeds. Does anybody have any real world experience with both mods installed? (STOL kit and micro vg's).

Thanks in advance.

dj2790,

I think I posted the link correctly to another discussion about this if your interested. Not sure I posted the link corrected in here so if not just search the hanger section for micro and you will see it.

http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... ilit=micro

Before Micro VG's, I'd look into Aileron gap seals. (Not Flap gap seals).

They have similar claims and you can still wash your wing without snagging your rag every two inches.

I have done about 160 hrs in a 170B with the micro VG,s fitted but found myself still landing at the same speeds as before and started to wonder if they were really were needed in the first place. PLUS ,the aircraft lost about 5 mph in cruise. however cleaning the aircraft was a chore especially around the tail area. this area always picks up the mud and dirt. The thingy bits that stick out will catch your knuckles or wash cloths.
The best solution is gap seals every where . I have only done about 1.6 hours in a converted 172 into a tail wheeler but it has very impressive control and the cruise is slightly higher for same RPM.

Yep! Work great together.

ghostflyer wrote:I have done about 160 hrs in a 170B with the micro VG,s fitted but found myself still landing at the same speeds as before and started to wonder if they were really were needed in the first place. PLUS ,the aircraft lost about 5 mph in cruise. however cleaning the aircraft was a chore especially around the tail area. this area always picks up the mud and dirt. The thingy bits that stick out will catch your knuckles or wash cloths.
The best solution is gap seals every where . I have only done about 1.6 hours in a converted 172 into a tail wheeler but it has very impressive control and the cruise is slightly higher for same RPM.

Don't bother with the flap gap seals. They don't help for slow flight.

Do it and don't look back.......

W.J.Langholz wrote:Do it and don't look back.......

(tongue-in-cheek from the nut) YEAH..... in fact...don't look at it at ALL if you do it... It'll be too UGLY!

delete

I never understood why people want to fly a 170 slower. It lands slow enough now that you can put it in places that you'd need a truck to get out of!

Why not figure out a way to make it fly faster without painting it red?

If there was an STC, I'd be flying a clipped wing 170

bagarre wrote:..........
Why not figure out a way to make it fly faster without painting it red?
............

Why not get a set of those micro jets the wing suit guy uses and strap them to the wing struts? When you feel the need for speed, light 'em up and hang on! You could even paint it green at that point.

Hmmm, you order it from Hangar #2 in Tehacapi. Me thinks Miles the Rocket Man is moonlighting!

If one was to use them like JATO bottles for takeoff but didn't want the drag during cruise, instead of mounting them on the struts, you could install two baggage doors opposite each other. Hinge each door on top (with a very heavy duty hinge). Mount the jets on the inside of the baggage doors. Hook up some hydraulics to open and close the doors and Voila!--C-170 JATO. I'm sure Del can get a field approval.

Well if the struts won't each take 50lb of thrust, clamp them to the landing gear. The wing suit guy uses 4 of them.

So for around $15,000 you can get two of them with the auxilliary other stuff. They would use 22-1/2gph so fill one tank with avgas, the other with kerosene and there you go! One hour of jet fun with an hour's reserve of avgas to get home.

100lb of extra thrust might be a lot of fun!

Would VGs still be needed?

hilltop170 wrote:...100lb of extra thrust might be a lot of fun! ...

IF I did the math right, at 88mph climb speed, 100 lb of thrust translates into an extra 23+ excess hp, which in in turn translates into an extra 350 ft/min climb at 2200lb gross weight.

Miles-
Are you selling those jet engines out of your hangar? Might be a good retirement hobby!