oriol
Well-Known Member
Hi!
To achieve maximum speed and reduce drag, some Reno racing biplanes have eliminated wires. In some cases, it is hard to tell, if the wings have become cantilever wings, and a strut has been left to provide some kind of rigidity?
Others, like the Airtruk or the duRand Mark V, seem to have follow a similar approach, by eliminating wires and replacing them with struts, which might be less draggy. In the case of the Airtruk, the lower wing seems to be cantilever and the upper wing hinged, to achieve a compromise between drag and weight penalty.
I understand that, if the upper and lower wing are both hinged, the wings might collapse in flight? The fastest biplane in Reno, the Phantom uses a Mong fuselage. So if the flying wires have been eliminated, the wings have perhaps been redesigned to be cantilever? If the aircraft has been optimized for maximum speed, now it can probably not withstand the same Gees?
Cheers,
Oriol
To achieve maximum speed and reduce drag, some Reno racing biplanes have eliminated wires. In some cases, it is hard to tell, if the wings have become cantilever wings, and a strut has been left to provide some kind of rigidity?
Others, like the Airtruk or the duRand Mark V, seem to have follow a similar approach, by eliminating wires and replacing them with struts, which might be less draggy. In the case of the Airtruk, the lower wing seems to be cantilever and the upper wing hinged, to achieve a compromise between drag and weight penalty.
I understand that, if the upper and lower wing are both hinged, the wings might collapse in flight? The fastest biplane in Reno, the Phantom uses a Mong fuselage. So if the flying wires have been eliminated, the wings have perhaps been redesigned to be cantilever? If the aircraft has been optimized for maximum speed, now it can probably not withstand the same Gees?
Cheers,
Oriol
