I realize the vortex generator topic has been thoroughly discussed. Notwithstanding that, the Micro Aerodynamics crew up at Anacortes finished a new STC late in summer. It is for the whole Luscombe 8 series of airframes, regardless of model or horsepower. I just finished the install on my 8E and now see stalls 7 mph slower. Good elevator authority into the really slow three point landings. Slow flight with good roll authority. Check it out if you have a Luscombe or a friend with one. Well worth the investment... and kind of fun to install. (full disclosure- I have no connection with them at all... other than admiration)

That's good to hear. I'm planning on putting one of their VG kits on my C150/150TD this winter. Only $700 for a C150, but I'm hoping it'll be a worthwhile investment.

I gotta tell ya's about Stolspeed VGs, if you don't already know.
I did a lot of research into why/where to install VGs, and shopping for prices.
I found them to be VERY spendy (for what they are) and understand the cost of certification is the reason. This is one reason I dropped the cert. on my Cub! I can afford to do & sign off my own work.

I found & bought a set (2 actually) of Stolspeed VGs for several reasons. (they're NOT certified tho)
They are reasonably priced... About $100/set.
They are made of high-UV resistant plastic of some sort, slightly flexible so they don't cut your arms, wing covers, nor get bent/torn off with fuel hoses, etc.
They come with templates, but NOT placement location. You haft'a research WHERE on your LE to place them, not all wings are the same, naturally. Put them as close to the LE as possible. If too far back they are not as effective.

Some folks consider them "wing candy" but just about all the AK bush pilots who WORK their planes have them installed. They will reduce your stall (landing) speed, but the best bennie (to me) is increased aileron authority at MCA. When slow & close to the ground, you NEED good control!
www.stolspeed.com

I like the STOLSpeed VG's because of their shark-fin shape and composition (soft-ish plastic)-- IMHO much more attractive than the squared-off Micro VG's and being flexible much less likely to be damaged or to cause damage. The wing kit with 120 VG's is enough to do both the wings & vertical on my C150 (114 total VG's in the Micro kit) and only costs about $100 from Spruce. However, they're not approved for certificated airplanes & in talking with my IA it didn't sound like a field approval would be likely due to the availability of STC'd VG kits (like Micro). I even thought about getting the Micro kit & STC but using the STOLspeed VG's in place of the aluminum Micro ones but my IA didn't think that'd fly either (get it? ). Also thought about just bootlegging them on but it'd be pretty obvious & would likely get me some unwanted official attention.

Very cool! Thanks for the post flightlogic! I've never noticed a lack of elevator or roll authority in slow fight but a 7 mph decrease in stall speed is significant. What was your before and after stall speeds? Does it handle better in ground effect? My 8e can be slowed down to 46ish in ground effect but it's a handful.

My 8e stalls at 53mph.

Whee,
The 8E was stalling at 58 indicated.... Very OLD airspeed indicator, so who knows how accurate.
Now, it stalls at about 49 indicated most days at 7500 ft. The roll authority stays solid right down to the stall which is an advantage. Got a bit more elevator authority as well... right into the 3 point stall. They are a bit of a pain to avoid fueling and washing... and look funny, but I have them on both my planes now. I think being able to go slow is a life saver in a plane... way more utility than going as fast as possible. It all beats being down there on the highway any day.

hotrod150 wrote:I like the STOLSpeed VG's because of their shark-fin shape and composition (soft-ish plastic)-- IMHO much more attractive than the squared-off Micro VG's and being flexible much less likely to be damaged or to cause damage. The wing kit with 120 VG's is enough to do both the wings & vertical on my C150 (114 total VG's in the Micro kit) and only costs about $100 from Spruce. However, they're not approved for certificated airplanes & in talking with my IA it didn't sound like a field approval would be likely due to the availability of STC'd VG kits (like Micro). I even thought about getting the Micro kit & STC but using the STOLspeed VG's in place of the aluminum Micro ones but my IA didn't think that'd fly either (get it? ). Also thought about just bootlegging them on but it'd be pretty obvious & would likely get me some unwanted official attention.

I have just the opposite take, even though I'm experimental and can use whatever I want, I went with Micro because I prefer the way they look! I like the way my alodined (anodized?) ones catch the sun, the plastic ones looks kind chinzty to me! The supplied template makes them super easy to install also.

One other thing: I'm not exactly sure of the whole history of the vg, but I do seem to remember that the Micro ads were the first to come to my attention anyway, 15 or 20 years ago maybe? Later companies came, well, later. To be perfectly upfront about why I like Micro's, after getting sick of seeing their ads for cert planes touting all the advantages, I called Charles White and asked why the hell didn't he offer to the homebuilt market, he responded by promptly sending me a kit FREE! All I had to do was report back on the best placement, after testing, I decided on so the next customer (who would buy them) wouldn't have to, (Rans S-7/S-7S). So when it came time to BUY some for my second S-7, I felt he deserved my business.

whee wrote:...... I've never noticed a lack of elevator or roll authority in slow fight . .....

In over 10 years of flying my old ragwing C170, I never thought the ailerons needed any help either. But after flying it again about 4 months after buying my C150TD, I wondered if someone had unhooked one of the ailerons when I wasn't looking! The ailerons were soooo much less effective it made me wonder how I never noticed that before.
Interesting that the VG kit for the Luscombe (as well as for Cubs) has VG for the horizontal as well as for the wing-- the C150 kit has them for the vertical but not the horizontal. I wonder if any of the kits hit all three locations?

Annie Brogan at Micro test flies each new aircraft type. She determined that the Luscombe had plenty of rudder authority as is. (I agree) So, the kit does the horizontal stab. and the wings. My C182A kit has tabs up both sides of the vertical stab. as well as it was determined to be worth it.
The argument about effectiveness will probably go on for a long time.... but I just look out at the wings of the new generation of big planes. They don't put them on there for decoration... and they spent way more on engineering and test, than I will make in a lifetime. Well, half a lifetime.

My ASI is ancient as well so who knows what the real stall speed is. That big of an improvement in stall speed is impressive. Having never flown another plane ,aside from 3 hours in a 15 and 1.5 in a 207, I have nothing to compare the effectiveness of the control surfaces to. Any improvement would be worthwhile unless there is a significant speed penalty. Did you loose much cruise speed?

No I gotta find a Luscombe with VGs to go for a ride in.

Whee, I didn't lose any cruise speed that I can tell. Physics tells me it must be slower... but maybe not measurable, at least by me.
Since it took so long for Micro- to get the STC on the Luscombe 8 series, it will be hard for you to find an equipped plane to ride in for a while. You are always welcome to fly mine in Northern AZ, but I don't know if you ever get down this way. I might do Cave Man Ranch again this spring. That was fun last time. There was a pretty yellow Luscombe there. Guy from Colorado I think.
I had the 182A on that trip as I was headed home from Grand Junction.

Thanks for the offer. I don't usually get down that way but if I do I will take you up on the offer. I plan on going to Caveman but I imagine you will be in the 182. I met the guy from CO with the yellow Luscombe at JC last summer. Nice guy.