Customer Q&A: Falcon 900 Slat Rigging

March 2014

This is an actual customer question and my answer about a Falcon 900 API winglet retro fit.

Question:

Dear Mark,

Is it normal for outboard slats not to retract fully after winglet installation? Outboard slats do not retract to fully retract position.

Warner, Falcon 900 Operator

Answer:

Warner,

We get this question a lot.

The quick answer is this forward slat rigging is intentional and is to avoid slat buckling. 

The longer answer is API had to take this design action to avoid slat buckling to get the winglet modification STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) approved. So in conjunction with Dassault, API developed the configuration in which the slats are very slightly down-rigged when stowed.

Thanks for the great question.