firegremlin
Active Member
Trying to see if there are some hidden problems I haven't thought of, other than peculiar aerodynamic surface shakes at idle.
Imagine, if you will, a steel tubular fuselage that ends somewhere just behind wing attach points with two somewhat stiff mounts holding a relatively long watercooled motor (I4 or I6, for example) by the "bellhousing". The other end of the bellhousing attaches to a torque tube, similar to C5 corvette or 944, going all the way forward, where you have a prop gearbox attached to the front of the fuselage using another stiff (but not solid) mount. So far, so good, nothing too weird.
Now, say I wanted to use the engine as a stressed member, and instead of extending the fuselage around the engine and all the way to the end, I'd attach the tail section directly to the engine? Again, assuming it's a tubular steel part. Engine/torque tube assembly's rigidity and length should be sufficient to prevent meaningful flex in all directions except torsion, and that's my concern here.
Assuming the engine is a modern, well-balanced piece, what would make you go, "not only is this unnecessary, but also dangerous because XYZ"? What are the potential pitfalls of a torsionally 'soft' tail?
Imagine, if you will, a steel tubular fuselage that ends somewhere just behind wing attach points with two somewhat stiff mounts holding a relatively long watercooled motor (I4 or I6, for example) by the "bellhousing". The other end of the bellhousing attaches to a torque tube, similar to C5 corvette or 944, going all the way forward, where you have a prop gearbox attached to the front of the fuselage using another stiff (but not solid) mount. So far, so good, nothing too weird.
Now, say I wanted to use the engine as a stressed member, and instead of extending the fuselage around the engine and all the way to the end, I'd attach the tail section directly to the engine? Again, assuming it's a tubular steel part. Engine/torque tube assembly's rigidity and length should be sufficient to prevent meaningful flex in all directions except torsion, and that's my concern here.
Assuming the engine is a modern, well-balanced piece, what would make you go, "not only is this unnecessary, but also dangerous because XYZ"? What are the potential pitfalls of a torsionally 'soft' tail?
