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Old 04-26-2009, 09:41 PM   #7 (permalink)
Peter7307
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Victoria , Australia.
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zman, Welcome to the place and enjoy your stay.

Citroen did some extensive testing on single wipers for the CX model range in the 1970's and came to the same conclusion you have.
Incidentally most long distance car racers have the wiper in this position for the same reason.
Parking the blade in the vertical position was the best solution for aero but the worst for driver vision and therefore safety.
They compromised with a single wiper parking horizontally just ahead of the driver in a shallow trough and sweeping almost 180 degrees.
The wiper movement followed the airflow over the car and did not lift even in severe cross winds.
The one drawback was at slow speeds the wiper sweep was so large it seemed to take forever for the thing to get back and clean the screen again. I had the right hand drive version with the left hand drive wipers so that did not help.

Cheers , Pete.
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