" but one would think the angle of attack of the exposed main plane and potentially the aftmost surface would be altered/compromised to some degree "
Spoilsport
" Would be entertaining to experiment with tufts in a wind tunnel, I expect. "
INKSPOTS !
Actually Anything . You can get flouo fishing thread ./ line .
But little camera lens recorder whatevers, attached to the airframe ( if you have one . Camera that is ) are being used for all sorts .
Fuel in a clunk tank would be one good place to aim it .
Using wool tufts ( or the equivilant ) youd want to see ( placement) that they couldnt get in between flaps & root fairings, caught in horns or
pushrods etc . But he nneeed for a wind tunnels virtually non existand with the little recorer suckers, nowadays .
If Igor made a three dimensional / vector ' G ' force transmitter / recorder , it'd be marvellous too .
Gelitenous paint spots'd record air travel ON surfaces . But the treads / tufts or w h y would reflect airflow . Particularly if they were on little say one half inch upstands . Like Vortex Generators , say .
The thought being if theyre over the surface , rather than on it , theyd give a more accurate account of the flow AROUND the surface rather than ON the surface .
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Talking about THRUST VECTORING , youd think a Bi Plane canard ( Front wing )( Vaned ! ) would give more that effect .
Wondered for years if a Vickers Vimy based aerobatic thing wouldnt be to bad . With its symytry of wings / thrustlines etc.
tho obviously its not a Canard , so tangental to the main thread , the Bi Plane tail youd think would ' air flow vector ' at least ! .