Comment

Comment by David J. Beaulieu on March 21, 2021 at 8:54am

Hey Bob, it will be interesting to see.  My rationale is explained in comments on the other pic.  I'm sure there will be an adjustment in my "sight picture" for landings and takeoff, but I had to do that for float operations already.  Increasing cruise speed/reducing fuel flow may be a happy coincidence, but my main thrust is to enhance safety margins arriving and departing waterways.  Always good to hear related info - thanks for chiming in!!

Dave

Comment by Bob McDonald on March 21, 2021 at 5:03am

I am not sure that is going to work well. The CH750 was designed to have them as part of its STOL capabilities. Form follows function. I saw a CH801 that had been flying successfully with the slats after the owner removed them and installed Vortex Generators in the pursuit of airspeed. The idea was good in theory but in practice the owner had become accustomed to the landings "with the slats" and a high nose attitude.  When Vortex Generators (I am a big fan of them) aircraft do stall it is sudden and pronounced. This particular CH801 stalled when landing in a normal slats on configuration and dropped so hard as to break the bungee and drive the nose gear tube through the top of the engine cowling. The main gear was bent in a "W" shape and there was damage to the wing / strut structure. In the pursuit of airspeed the CH701 / CH750 / CH801 are the wrong aircraft for the mission. I make this statement as a cautionary tale knowing full well I will have just stepped into a huge "Cow Pie" of Slats vs. VG controversy. The accident aircraft was at Kitchener Airport 2010. A very sad builder and written off aircraft.

Fly safe.