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Extreme Engineering
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- Oct 19, 2020
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Do you know why it had bad results?
J.L. Frusha
Well-Known Member
I have wondered whether there was a failure in the vertical tail or rudder that caused the loss of control.
Whether it did or not, I consider the configuration a lesson that the lower surface should be landing gear only (and narrower to reduce weight and drag), and the vertical stabilizer and rudder on top to divorce them from taxi, takeoff, and landing loads.
flywheel1935
Well-Known Member
I can see a trend here; the 3 most beautiful aircraft, Spitfire, Concorde and Comet are ALL BRITISH 
The bottom vertical in / on that design protected the propeller as well as providing lateral stability. After that, for an absolute minimum drag airframe, might as well incorporate the tail wheel.
BJC
Last edited:
Concorde is British? Since when?
flywheel1935
Well-Known Member
Come on, all the frogs did was stick the "E" on the end !!!!!! !
EzyBuildWing
Well-Known Member
Tu-144
Lois
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- Jan 7, 2022
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- 40
Nah, they also designed the landing gear and the fuel system.Come on, all the frogs did was stick the "E" on the end !!!!!! !
Lois
Active Member
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It's telling that after getting the accolades and press clippings the Tupolev was relegated to flying mail and parcels to the far east... Sorta like the Tu-22, another Tupolev and Soviet "first", was reassigned to less "stressful" duties after a series of crashes.
Aesquire
Well-Known Member
Several of the pre-WW2 racers qualify as beautiful.
Just to pick a few.
Howard DGA-3 Pete
the history of famous racing and record breaking aircraft
www.airracinghistory.freeola.com
Howard DGA-4 Mike and DGA-4 Ike
the history of famous racing and record breaking aircraft
www.airracinghistory.freeola.com
Hall Bulldog Racer
the history of famous racing and record breaking aircraft
www.airracinghistory.freeola.com
Laird Super Solution
the history of famous racing and record breaking aircraft
www.airracinghistory.freeola.com
Wittman D-12 Bonzo air racer
the history of famous racing and record breaking aircraft
www.airracinghistory.freeola.com
Just to pick a few.
I understand that; you miss my point.
That stabilizer and rudder are vulnerable to damage from ground operation.
It's obvious the prop requires separation from the ground; the surface should be stout and no larger than required to fair the tail wheel.
Put a stabilizer and rudder on top of the fuselage where they aren't vulnerable to ground loads or debris.
Even a minor bend of the rudder hinge will interfere with operation. Gravel, sand, dirt and so on can bind operation.
The empennage on this minimum drag configuration requires careful thought and analysis to get it as right as feasible.
I'm also curious about the details of the empennage attachments and means of load redistribution with the drive shaft passing through.
Unfortunately we'll not likely ever know unless there are construction notes, drawings, and detailed photos (including wreckage) remaining that could be examined.
Nah, they also designed the landing gear and the fuel system.
I have a photo of the TU-144 going through it's soft field testing.
EzyBuildWing
Well-Known Member
Tu-144 .......great short video-clip...... looks like it was headed for the Stars......built for Inter Planetry........sooooo SciFi futuristic.....
EzyBuildWing
Well-Known Member
Mark 24 Spitfire looks pretty good in this vid:
