Gurney flaps improve the performance of airfoils, such as spoilers, by changing the way air moves around them. They can be retrofitted to existing equipment and vary in design depending on the application. The innovation was discovered by Dan Gurney in the 1970s and has since been used in race cars, planes, and helicopters to improve stability and efficiency.
A Gurney flap is an accessory that can improve the performance of an airfoil such as a spoiler or so-called spoiler on a vehicle. You can improve the ratio between lift and drag to increase efficiency and performance. Such accessories can be retroactively added to improve the performance of existing equipment, as well as being designed for an airfoil design. Fin characteristics may vary, depending on the application.
The flaps change the way the air behaves as it moves around an airfoil. In wind tunnels using smoke to make air movement patterns visible, the Gurney fin can demonstrate what it does when an airfoil moves through space. The equipment can increase the pressure on one side of an airfoil and control the limit flow of air as it moves across the surface to improve the way it works. A small vortex spins around the fin to change the quality of air movement.
This innovation is frequently attributed to Dan Gurney, who worked with race cars in the 1970s. Gurney wanted to find a way to improve performance in a cost-effective manner and discovered that mounting a stripe perpendicular to the airfoil on his cars could have amazing results. His vehicles achieved higher speeds, particularly in corners, an area where speed is commonly lost in racing because drivers must slow down for safety. The Gurney fin quickly became a hit and was added to other vehicle designs as racers caught on to the concept.
The same basic design also works for some aircraft, including planes and helicopters. Many helicopters use the stretcher flap to effectively control their lift, which can vary considerably during flight due to the way the craft is moving. The fins make the helicopter more stable and more efficient, offering a number of benefits to pilots. Various helicopter designers and developers regularly use this equipment in their projects and conduct research on other measures to improve aerodynamics.
The stretcher flaps stand out visually because they are perpendicular, rather than design-optimized, as is the case with other aerodynamic features. They can be fixed in place, as seen with many designs. Some retract, like the massive hydraulic flaps used on commercial airliners during takeoff and landing. The Gurney fin allows for greater control over lift and speed for pilots and drivers as they operate high-speed aircraft, helicopters, and automobiles.
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