[quote="WorkingOnIt"]
[quote="CalScot"]
I talked at length to Pennon Composites a few weeks ago. They can build me a front wing like this one
http://www.pennon.com/products/wings/Formula%20wings/Atlantic%20wings/ButlerAtl1.JPG .... Pennon's estimate was if I remember right, about $2200 for this front wing in C/F and $1500 in fiberglass.
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Considering the weight distribution of the Atom, is C/F in the front really a functional advantage? I would think a few extra grams over the front wheels would only add to the balance. Unless the location is critical - I don't pretend to know the relative importance of F/R distribution vs. polar moment of inertia.
[quote="Curator"]
There must be a balance between down force obtained and drag added,or no one would run wings. Finding that balance is the key. Most wing setups are adjustable for angle of attack.
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Calscot's and Fiesty's rear wings were actually supplied as dynamically adjustable - it could theoretically flip to neutral on the straights à la the Chaparral 2 series. If I recall correctly, neither of them found it worth the hassle to implement the dynamic feature. The wings were praised as a bargain, but I see the website is no longer active -
http://www.darkspeedwings.com/
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Actually, the accelerometer/control unit kept failing and the designer/owner was supposed to get it fixed. His heart was not in it though and although he was an aerodynamic engineer at Swift Engineering where they make the Atlantic cars, he got a job at Boeing on some top secret program and he focused on that and gave up on the wing thing. I had one of the only functioning control units but I broke it
It's actually a good aerofoil and well made. I have two of them with one set of original brackets. A simple mount along the lines of the TMI rear wing mount would work great on them. I might fab up two set of mounts with nice end plates and flog them on here someday or use one myself again and sell the other.