AEROSPOILER|Airplane Wind Damage in the News|Aerodynamics
Thunderstorms and other high winds can come along with little warning, especially if you don't follow the news all day continuously.
As a storm develops, if there is a circulation, because oncoming wind is added to the circulating front headed in the opposite
direction. So, a 20 mph wind will be added to a 30mph wind from the other direction, causing a shear of 50mph. In severe thunderstorms,
most will contain much higher wind speeds. Airplane wings, or aerofoils in general, are designed to create lift from air flowing over
the wings.
Here are a few news items found when searching for: "airplane wind damage"-
Upside-down airplane video:
And some links to other news stories and notes from many locations:
These are just a few found with a very short search. News links fail every now and then and we are sorry for that. These were accurate as of March 2011.
Please report broken links. The key point is that everywhere is subject to damaging winds
in all seasons.
The AeroSpoiler was created because the inventor was flying medical missions in the Caribbean and the Gulf
of Mexico in general. He found limited airfields with no anchors, and tying to a tree that can as easily be blown over by the same winds,
damaging the airplane by its proximity. Anchors augured into sandy soil are marginal at best. You still need tie downs, but
we offer additional protection that reduces the effect wind will have in causing your wings to lift and flip the airplane.
Preparing your airplane to weather high winds consists of many steps, the key is genrally the tie down system. Secure anchors
aer a requirement. Following FAA guidelines and manufacturing manuals are where you begin. Tie down systems can vary in type and
materials. Under any severe high wind conditions, prevention of wind damage cannot be guaranteed. Weather is very unpredictable,
and no one has ever figured out why one system creates more wind sheer than another weather system.
Securing your airplane to reduce the possibility of high wind damage, especially if high winds are predicted, will require many
more options to be used. Some use sand bags, spoiler boards, additional tiedowns, and some more creative systems.
The Aero Spoiler kit can be attached to your wings very quickly, and even if high winds are not in the forecast, should be
mounted whenever your plane is parked. After all, you always make sure your airplane is tied dowm- right?
Adding the detachable spoiler will give you yet another additional option to add to your overall tie down strategy.
Every little bit helps, of course. The industrial suction cup anchors have been tested, and will hold the polymer
spoiler boards at very high wind speeds. Since it was impractical to test the AeroSpoiler on an aircraft, or into a
wind tunnel, we tested it on cars driving on the freeway and back roads.
Here is what www.pilotfriend.com had to say about spoilers:
"A single row of properly secured sandbags or 2x2's (spoiler boards ) on the top of a wing's leading edge will serve as an effective
spoiler and reduce the lifting tendency of the wings. Do not overload the wings with sandbags. If the anticipated winds will exceed
the lift-off speed of the aircraft wings, then the makeshift spoilers should run the entire length of the wings. The 2x2 homemade
spoiler is very easily constructed and may be used for all types of light aircraft. Drill a number of 3 /8-inch holes across the
length of the 2x2. Cement a strip of 1-inch foam rubber to the entire length of the 2x2. This will prevent damaging the wing's
surface. Avoid nailing the foam rubber to the spoiler since the nailheads may damage the wing's skin."
Duuhhh- in general nails and wings are bad together!
