Leading edge tape?

[M20E-1964]

The leading edges on my M20E have seen better days.

What is the general consensus on applying leading edge tape to cover up the less than apealing paint as well as protect the edge?

I was looking at this here:

 

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/protectiveLeading.php

 

 

[aerobat95]

I will be interested in hearing what people think.  I just recently had the tops and leading edges of my wings repainted and was thinking this might help keep them looking nice....

[NotarPilot]

I would guess you would be penalized with a slight reduction in speed.

[rob]

Raymond,

Do you mind sharing the details of your touch up paint? Who did the work and what the costs were?

 

Thanks!

[M20E-1964]

Quote: NotarPilot

I would guess you would be penalized with a slight reduction in speed.

[rbridges]

race cars use stuff like that on their windshields, so it may not be a huge problem with speed.  I've thought about it, too.  I've put the 3m stuff on several of my cars to protect the bumpers.  Every plane I've seen ends up with chips around the cowling and the leading edges of the wing, especially closer to the fuselage. 

I've had it on 3 white cars, and it has a very very slight yellowish tint.  I would imagine it would get worse with time if your plane is left in the sun quite a bit.  On my other cars, you couldn't really see it unless it was pointed out to you.  I'd also make sure your paint is in good shape.  I've had this stuff removed for various reasons, and it usually just pulls off the car.  If your paint is in bad shape, it could end up taking some paint off, too.

[jetdriven]

The Mooney wing is laminar flow. Putting tape on it is probably enough to trip the boundary layer and cost you a couple knots. 

[jackn]

I had the leading edges painted last year. I intended to install TKS, I didn't want to place the panels over unpainted metal. The original paint still looks great though. I may re-paint in the future. I did not notice any speed change.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: jackn

I had the leading edges painted last year. I intended to install TKS, I didn't want to place the panels over unpainted metal. The original paint still looks great though. I may re-paint in the future. I did not notice any speed change.

[jackn]

I was told that, only it isn't tape, it's paint. A lot cheaper than a whole paint job, spent my $ on TKS instead.

[aerobat95]

Quote: rob

Raymond,

Do you mind sharing the details of your touch up paint? Who did the work and what the costs were?

 

Thanks!

[docket]

I used the 3M leading edge tape and it worked out well.  I used the clear.  It has been on about 500 to 600 hours.  Still looks fine and stops all of the chipping.

[pilot716]

We are having it applied as the last step to our paint job. I saw it on a saratoga KD reese had just done and decided we should do it. It is clear and protects the leading edge from chipping.

[aerobat95]

Hey what width are you guys going with????

[pilot716]

Good question, Im not sure..I will see it on Thursday or Friday, It is the 3M type though.

[David Mazer]

When I purchased my plane I had the leading edge painted to buy a couple years before I painted the plane.  There was a distinct line top and bottom but it looked a lot nicer.  Then I had the plane stripped and repainted.  That is when I found out that I had lost about 5 knots due to the effect on the wing from that very long edge causing disturbace in the laminar flow.  I can't imagine that the tape would cause less problem than the paint and I would argue against it.