Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / January 2009

Let us know how it turns out.  Nothing like a
little reality check to help trim the wild
unruly growth of theories.  :o)

I don't think so, although I haven't examined the
droops myself.

The kind of droop device I am imagining is the leading edge
cuff:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leading_edge_cuff

This is symmetrical on both sides of the plane and doesn't
introduce any dihedral effects (i.e., the cuff isn't itself
tapered from root to tip).  What it does is increase
lift and drag.  This means that the stall speed of the
aircraft will be lower as well as the top speed--the
entire flight envelope is shifted toward the lower end
of the spectrum which, arguably, is good for beginners.
When the cuffs are taken off, the plane has to be
landed faster and may be flown faster which, arguably,
is good for intermediate pilots.

Or the droops may be the equivalent of leading
edge slots:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leading_edge_slot

Some airliners have got moveable leading edge slats.
You can watch them come out as the plane is configured
for landing.  

You can see several photos of the leading edge slats
of the F-100 Super Sabre on this page:

http://www.f-100.org/hun007.shtml

These slats would come out at low speeds to allow
slower landings but would retract at higher speeds
to reduce drag.

                Marty