WIX Archives

Re: Bugatti Racer....wow!

Posted by Christer on Thu Dec 06, 2001 02:13:09 PM

In reply top Re: Bugatti Racer....wow! posted by MGM on Thu Dec 06, 2001 10:28:44 AM

A few thoughts:
If all three surfaces are identical you don?t have to decide which two are wings and which is the fin, at least not aerodynamically. I bet, however, that the jockey would like to define the two surfaces protruding "from his bottom" to be wings since he/she can?t sustain to high negative G-force or side-force for that matter.

If we get rid of the jockey and design a RPV then think about this:
The vehicle is flying straight and level (obviously we have sorted out the stability problems). One surface is acting as the fin and the other two as wings. A right hand turn with 90 degrees of bank is achieved by rolling 30 degrees to the left, the former fin becomes the new left wing, the former left wing becomes the new right wing and the former right wing becomes the new fin. Thinking about it, it really needs to be a RPV since sorting this out with conventional stick and pedals would be impossible.

Apart from the stability problem there would be structural problems. How do you design the spars? How do you pick up the loads from aerodynamic surfaces which produce only something like half the lift in the desired direction and the other half of the forces try to rip the damned thing apart?

If we put the jockey back in charge and alter the design to suite his/her limitations then my guess is that the dart would slowly approach a conventional design.

By the way, I?m sure that either the Americans or the Soviets have tested something like this, so, whos computer are You back-dooring, Mick?

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