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  1. something-awful

    Langewiesche disects Flight 447

    No major recoverable sources exactly stating it that I can find right off hand, my statement's come from those I've worked with in the airline circle. We also get at my club a number of airline pilots sent (or very seriously reccommended to go) to us by their operator to experience glider...
  2. something-awful

    Langewiesche disects Flight 447

    Over the lifetime of an aircraft, maybe. The cost of Delta's salaries was something like 38% but the crew costs come to 7-8% on average. Yes that's still a lot if you half it but it won't directly half, you are instead far more likely to just simply move the cost elsewhere along the...
  3. something-awful

    Langewiesche disects Flight 447

    Pretty much spot on. I didn't read all !9! pages but I got the gist. My thoughts, stand back: Singularly all the technology we bring into the cockpit is great, how we're integrating it is arguably poor. Computers are designed by humans, we're never going to be taken out of the loop...
  4. something-awful

    fuslage shapes

    As far as I'm aware the improvement in both the Vampire, and similarly Hawker Hunter aircraft was the increase in maximum speed only due to the improved area ruling the wider nose section gave. Something with minimal applicability for a home built.
  5. something-awful

    British Tax Return

    I see your PM and raise you the Mayor of London: "OUT OF THE WAY PEASANTS!"
  6. something-awful

    fuslage shapes

    Hardly an expert, but I will be crazy-impressed if you actually manage to make an aircraft carry a payload greater than it's MTOM!
  7. something-awful

    SA Light A/C Conceptual Design

    How bizarre, I never noticed it shutting. Fixed is most likely the way to go. Judging by comments, for an a/c this size it's more weight, hassle and if poorly maintained/designed. Even semi-retract is more bother than it's worth. And probably better for my own conscious, retracts remind me...
  8. something-awful

    SA Light A/C Conceptual Design

    Oddly I didn't see any "cross plot" method in Raymer's book, he starts with fuel weight fractions and Empty mass prediction and then just...stops. I've generally established the ones I need from Mattingly, Nicolai, and a couple of other places as-and-when for a specific mission Although on...
  9. something-awful

    SA Light A/C Conceptual Design

    The constraints analysis is the 'cross plot' that I've made, where you initially size the wing area and minimum engine size by virtue of Thrust-weight and wing loading needed. I've not seen an increase in MTOM for increase in Empty weight too often since that's usually covered in the empty mass...
  10. something-awful

    fuslage shapes

    What do you want your plane to achieve? What's the maximum speed? What's the T/O and Landing Distance? What payload? What stall speed? Any particular budget? What's the maximum weight? Any other performance criteria? Any comments will be largely academic until the envelope of the aircraft is known
  11. something-awful

    fuslage shapes

    A lifting body amphib... Lift off the fuselage or indeed any low AR surface is highly draggy. You'll need very high angles of attack to get any form of substantial lift, not sure that's conducive to water ops. Maybe write down the aircraft's target specs first? A config like that doesn't...
  12. something-awful

    SA Light A/C Conceptual Design

    I never really managed to get to grips with Roskam personally, he adds more parameters but that doesn't necessarily mean it's more accurate. I agree that Raymer misses out the one step I find most useful...Constraints analysis, he doesn't really show how to properly break into the design...
  13. something-awful

    fuslage shapes

    In terms of comfort that's all to do with the posture you're forced into. In terms of why a given geometry's picked, that's to do with your performance envelope, how much space you have to play with and if task-sharing is a priority (tandem or side by side for common set of instruments...
  14. something-awful

    SA Light A/C Conceptual Design

    Thought I wrote the rationale behind that. Oops. The aspect ratio dropped down to try and meet the 300kg max (without parachute) target weight without taking performance into account. I under-estimated just how much I may have to compromise the size and shape of the plane, although I realise...
  15. something-awful

    SA Light A/C conceptual design

    So Had a couple of days off to do...nothing. Here is a wall of text to make up for it. Good luck The first thing I tend to do with a conceptual design is set up the weight estimation tables and following from that the balance estimation tables, since that's what I'm going to be...
  16. something-awful

    Discussion: Conceptual Design of an "Inexpensive" Single-Seat Motorglider

    Late to the party, but a couple of notes/my thoughts. Chances are you'll never get your real flight tests at ISA so if I remember right EASA/FAR specs have correction methods somewhere in the appendices or AMCs, so that way all the aircraft tested are given a standard datum to compare from...
  17. something-awful

    Aircraft design for the SIMPLE-MINDED!

    Good point well made
  18. something-awful

    Aircraft design for the SIMPLE-MINDED!

    Well doesn't this sound dangerous... The difference between a car and a plane is being able to stop and pull over once you've had enough. Whether or not you're an engineer you are not allowed to be negligent. I don't expect some people on an internet forum will suddenly make you change your...
  19. something-awful

    WOMEN instead of gas or electric. WHY NOT?

    Yes, you're correct(ish), but do I suspect that these threads are becoming a bit of a running joke that's long past the point of funny? Also yes. That aside. Friends at undergrad entered the Shell eco marathon, which, while for cars, was all abut fuel consumption and lightness. They were one...
  20. something-awful

    SA Light A/C Conceptual Design

    The amount of mistakes I make I've long ago reached reached inner peace...It certainly saves the furniture and money in the swear box. I now just console myself with preferring to be wrong with the chance of fixing it than being negligent. Aesquire I suspect you're right. Given I'm not...
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