poormansairforce
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I didn't realize you're talking about slow airplanes.Excuse me ?
Define fast.
Sorry, I didn't realize you're talking about slow airplanes.Excuse me ?
Define fast.
Red Baron used a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine. Later model Griffons came stock from the factory with counter-rotating propellers. CR props were installed for two reasons.There have been 3. Red Baron, Precious Metal and Miss Ashley II.
I read about Critical Mass having trouble as originally built where it didn't have enough rudder to use full power on takeoff. Somebody designed a new fin/rudder and it solved the problem.
Roll control is not generally a problem. Rare Bear has tiny ailerons.
I am trying to figure out also how we fly after we run outa oil....fast is relative.Sorry, I didn't realize you're talking about slow airplanes.
Hang out on a cloud and thumb a ride from the rest of us that realize we're not running out of oil anytime soon.I am trying to figure out also how we fly after we run outa oil
Hang out on a cloud and thumb a ride from the rest of us that realize we're not running out of oil anytime soon.
FYI - Despite the hype of electric aircraft and the idea that they are our last best hope to continue flying they are not, though I thought the rocket /catapult idea quite clever.I am trying to figure out also how we fly after we run outa oil....fast is relative.
If you have a catapult and a rocket assisted take off climb you can fly electric aircraft nearly as fast the jets today...at very high altitude, but it is not practical.
I wonder if 300-400 km/h would do...as that is the speed we can reach easily with batteries and solar power..but the airliners cannot carry as many passengers as now with similar size..or can but cannot fly very far.
The market might easily be overrun by political forces that will, without incontrovertible scientific proof for their actions, wreck it all.I have every confidence that we will never run out of gasoline, or a reasonable substitute. Technology provides as it has always provided, and will continue to do so in the future.
It may be that other energy storage systems (for that is all that gasoline is) may be developed that are just as good, and therefore it may happen that people may choose to not use gas. But that's different than "running out".
If gas is the preferred energy storage system, the market and tech will provide.
FYI - Despite the hype of electric aircraft and the idea that they are our last best hope to continue flying they are not, though I thought the rocket /catapult idea quite clever.
If our collective political dumb asses could admit how little they know they could stop subsidizing corn production and tax breaks for the insanely wealthy and instead subsidize technologies for a (more) circular enegy economy. With comparatively little investment CDP (Catalyzed Depolymerization) could convert 80% of all solid waste (all of the long chain carbon chemistry created either from oil or plant based feed stocks) back into storable, high grade (low sulfer) diesel or Jet A. We could literally farm existing landfills for decades. (Note before anyone comments - the collection of methane from landfills accounts for about 8% of the total energy buried... Good to use but not to be too proud of overall..).
The other investment should be for truly efficient, e.g.high "specific" power,, diesel aircraft engines. (See Liquid Piston engine, Opposed Piston Diesel, etc..)
Finally, the best commercial application for electric aircraft is the hybrid electric/turbine designs. An incredibly efficient multi-hundred horsepower electric motor provides the additional peak horsepower for takeoff and landing. Energy is stored in (relatively) small batteries and super capacitors. Then the turbine can be designed for optimum cruise output. The overall efficiency gains are quite high as the off-peak burn rate of turbine engines is upwards of 30% greater than at peak output
Also, keep in mind that these are aircraft. Every pound added to the airframe is a pound that cannot be cargo. Liquid fuels carry 6-10 fold the specific energy (energy per lb.) of our best batteries. Pure Electric planes make little senses other than for specialty apps.
So let's all get real together and lobby for intelligent use of our resources.. Or buy catapults..
Catapult takeoff is worse than useless. You MUST land back at the catapult, or else dismantle the airplane and truck it back. Little different than a glider winch. Is that what sport flying should be reduced to just so electric propulstion can be employed?Yes we can fly electric ACs...if don't need to go anywhere..as their energy lasts only an hour max. Catapult + rocket assisted take off is then an other matter.
No ....it is the last resort.Catapult takeoff is worse than useless. You MUST land back at the catapult, or else dismantle the airplane and truck it back. Little different than a glider winch. Is that what sport flying should be reduced to just so electric propulstion can be employed?
I wonder if the Falck's Rivets could be tuned into a faster craft ?