{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "canards-dive-planes",
 "name": "Canards / dive planes",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Car design",
 "group": "Car aero",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What do canards (dive planes) do on a race car?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "car aero",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "canards",
  "dive planes",
  "dive plane",
  "bumper canards",
  "front canards",
  "canard angle",
  "canard downforce",
  "winglets front bumper",
  "rc car canards",
  "touring car dive planes"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/canards-dive-planes/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/canards-dive-planes/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Canards are small winglets on the front bumper corners used to fine-tune front aero balance. They sit in the splitter's upwash and their tip vortex keeps flow attached at high angles (HPA).",
   "Unlike a splitter they get no ground effect, so they make less load per area and more drag, but they are much less ride-height sensitive (HPA).",
   "More canard load generally hurts the rear: the upwash feeds dirty, low-energy air to the rear wing and reduces its effective angle (HPA).",
   "The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (18.4 deg = atan(100/300) from HPA's rise ratio; width illustrative.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value or range",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "Leading-edge alignment",
     "about 5 deg nose-down (to meet splitter upwash)",
     "HPA canards"
    ],
    [
     "Profile rise (ballpark)",
     "~100 mm rise per 300 mm length",
     "HPA canards"
    ],
    [
     "Starting height",
     "~250 mm above splitter at lowest point",
     "HPA canards"
    ],
    [
     "Outer flick / endplate",
     "~20 mm tall, top surface only",
     "HPA canards"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Canards / dive planes — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/canards-dive-planes/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Canards are small winglets on the front bumper corners used to fine-tune front aero balance. They sit in the splitter's upwash and their tip vortex keeps flow attached at high angles (HPA).\n- Unlike a splitter they get no ground effect, so they make less load per area and more drag, but they are much less ride-height sensitive (HPA).\n- More canard load generally hurts the rear: the upwash feeds dirty, low-energy air to the rear wing and reduces its effective angle (HPA).\n- The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (18.4 deg = atan(100/300) from HPA's rise ratio; width illustrative.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.\n\nparameter  value or range  source\nLeading-edge alignment  about 5 deg nose-down (to meet splitter upwash)  HPA canards\nProfile rise (ballpark)  ~100 mm rise per 300 mm length  HPA canards\nStarting height  ~250 mm above splitter at lowest point  HPA canards\nOuter flick / endplate  ~20 mm tall, top surface only  HPA canards\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- High Performance Academy: Aerodynamic performance devices for club level cars: front canards — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.hpacademy.com/courses/aerodynamics-fundamentals/aerodynamic-performance-devices-for-club-level-cars-front-canards\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/canards-dive-planes/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=canards-dive-planes\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "High Performance Academy",
   "title": "Aerodynamic performance devices for club level cars: front canards",
   "url": "https://www.hpacademy.com/courses/aerodynamics-fundamentals/aerodynamic-performance-devices-for-club-level-cars-front-canards",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "rear-wing-single-element",
  "rear-wing-dual-element",
  "swan-neck-wing-mount",
  "gurney-flap-wickerbill",
  "wing-endplates",
  "front-splitter"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "Do canards replace a splitter?",
   "a": "HPA says most front load should come from the splitter; canards are a balance adjustment unless rules force reliance on them."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": {
  "name": "Xem Studio Design License",
  "holder": "Xem Studio",
  "url": "https://xemstudio.com/license/",
  "note": "Xem Studio's own design: free to use, print, modify and sell things made from it; not to be republished or redistributed as files."
 },
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "canards-dive-planes-dive-plane",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/canards-dive-planes/canards-dive-planes-dive-plane.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/canards-dive-planes/canards-dive-planes-dive-plane.stl",
   "note": "Canard / dive plane 300 × 150 mm at 18.4°"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/canards-dive-planes/index.md"
}