T
HE LEADING edge is probably the most
critical part of the Phoenix wing shape.
The leading edge shape was designed to give
the best balance of low drag on launch and
good glide performance. This is the place to
put in that extra bit of effort to get things
really right.
Start out by protecting the wing with mask-
ing tape, the same as you did for the trailing
edge. Use a razor plane and sanding block to
Rough out the leading edge. At this stage,
you just want get the shape close, without
taking off too much. Again, resting the wing
in its cradle will help.
N
OW SHAPE the leading and trailing edges.
This has to be done without modifying
the contour anywhere else. The best way is
to protect the remainder of the wing with
masking tape while you are working. See the
trailing edge sketches on the plans
On the trailing edge, you need to remove the
excess balsa until you get to the fiberglass
tape. Lay a piece of masking tape on the wing
with its aft edge aligned with the aft edge of
the foam core. Add additional strips of tape
adjacent to the first one until you have at
least 2" covered. Using a straight sanding
block, sand the trailing edge to the shape on
the plans. Support the wing in its cradle
while sanding.
The black marks on the inside of the skin will help you judge
the progress of the sanding. We sand the edge until it is sharp,
and then trim it back slightly to blunt it. Yes, you can cut your
finger on one of these trailing edges!
It is hard to make the trailing edge the right shape while main-
taining the proper wing chord. We prefer to get the airfoil
right, and then make the chords of the wing panels match. It
is not critical if the chord does not match the plans exactly.
Protect the wing with tape
Sand the TE to shape
Phoenix
Page 12
Wing Construction
Shape trailing edge
Protect wing with tape
Start shaping the LE
Carve leading edge
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