 Carbon/foam ribs epoxy-bonded and glassed into top of vertical fin. | The Skyleader factory were not satisfied with the 'flutter' resistance of the GP One's T-tail, having experienced flutter at 135 kts (16 kt above Vne). So, in conjunction with the technical university at Brno and the Stemme glider factory, they researched and developed a modification that increased the theoretical 'flutter' speed to more than 194 knots (360 kmph). Subsequent flight tests proved the mod was successful. |
| Over New Year, the factory sent the carbon parts out to NZ. The upgrade consisted of an external carbon transition piece to stiffen the boom-to-vertical fin joint, plus a series of carbon/foam sandwich ribs to be fitted inside the tail fin. |  Foam/carbon ribs to internally stiffen vertical fin. |  Carbon transition piece to externally stiffen boom-to-vertical fin joint. |
 Foam/carbon patch in vertical tail spar. |  Carbon transition piece bonded to vertical fin (+ waiting for fairing/painting to be completed). | Bill Barber, known in NZ for his series of carbon fibre 'Snark' designs and for helping build several carbon 'Furio' aircraft kits, came up to Wanaka to help install the upgrade. The fin is certainly a lot stiffer, so that alone will alter the 'harmonic' frequency that might induce flutter. |
| The transition piece has now been smoothly faired into the fuselage. The spray painter has worked his magic. An added bonus is that the revised boom-to-fin curve looks even better than the original 'angular' style. It matches the other curves on the GP One.. |  completed fin upgrade |
