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From: savage@rainbo.DEC (Dennis DTN 282-2614)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: High lift vs. laminar air foils
Message-ID: <3460@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 5-Aug-85 18:45:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.3460
Posted: Mon Aug  5 18:45:37 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 7-Aug-85 02:31:28 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 29

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First of all many thanks to those of you who sent me information concerning
the flying characteristics of the Grumman AA1A.

As always, learning something new raises a few new questions...

One of the replies came from A. Gomez. He explained that the Yankee (and the
Arrow) don't float like a C-172, that in comparison they drop like a rock, this
being due to the fact that Cessna uses a high lift airfoil and the others use
laminar airfoils.

My question here is perhaps silly but I thought all airfoils had to rely on
a laminar flow of air across the upper surface to fly.

What is the difference here... and why would anyone want to have a wing that
would let them drop like a rock?

For those ho are interested the best quote re:the AA1A -

	"The Yankee is like a mid '50's Italian sports car. Very fast 
	 and nice, but  you  have to  be an  above average driver  to
	                	handle it."


/Dennis Savage
Digital Equipment Corp.

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