Gents &
Southern Aero
I certainly enjoy a good discussion and thank you for sharing your knowledge. There are different types of LE devices. Some, like the Boeing 737, and to a limited extent the Helio extend forward and down. These effectively change the camber of the wing and will increase the lift at lower angles of attack. My understanding of the Backcountry slats (the only ones commercially available that I know of, and hence the ones I was referring to in my posts above) is that they are fixed slats that do not "open" until the AOA reaches a certain point. I do not know what that point is. But.....my belief.....and I may be wrong.....is that they would not be deployed at the takeoff or landing deck angle for "normal" float operations and perhaps "normal" gravel bar approaches. Obviously I have seen the videos of the very high AOA landings on youtube. Based on the OP's post and questions I asked why he wanted them.
Doug Keller spent a great deal of time developing his flap because it lowers stall speed at a lower deck angle. He did not develop (though I know for a fact he looked long and hard at the concept) LE devices because he felt they would have limited benefit for normal backcountry flying applications. However, I will add that I have seen his LE slat experiments so I know he is still looking at it. LE devices that "extend and droop" add considerable complexity and weight and because of those design criteria have seen very limited application in GA. It sounds like the wing you are building may have a different type of LE slat than the Backcountry (Wayne Mackey) design.
Hey....lets be clear here....I am NOT saying LE slats or slots, or Kreuger LE flaps, etc are bad!!! I use them several days a week. It all depends on your mission and what you want the airplane to do.
But I asked, if they were necessary, based on his mission. Everything in aircraft design is a trade off, weight, complexity, cost, performance compromises, etc. LE devices have advantages and disadvantages. You just have to decide what works for you based on your knowledge of these compromises. Like all things LE devices are not free. Are you willing to pay the price? Does it fit your mission?
Hope this helps
Bill