New answers tagged aerodynamics
8
votes
Accepted
Why can’t flying wings enter a flat spin?
In order to maintain a flat spin, an airplane with natural longitudinal stability needs a strong pitch-up moment. Without it, the tail will weathervane it into a dive. What provides this pitch-up ...
- 237k
3
votes
What causes the "dead band" phenomenon during takeoff on the Boeing 737?
A question about dead-band has been posted previously by the OP. That one was about a deadband in response of the flight controls with hydraulic systems OFF, this present question is about a deadband ...
- 62.9k
0
votes
Why does the left-backswept wing have more leading edge suction on an oblique wing?
The paper shows an image for the chord-wise pressure distributions for an oblique wing (Fig 2a), which indicates how the pressure distribution is modified due to forward ('right wing') and rearward ('...
- 8,272
9
votes
Accepted
Most Efficient Glide: Pitch Up or Level Flight to Bleed Airspeed
Once you lose all power, you become, in the first approximation, a ballistic projectile.
More accurately, you're aeroballistic, but the rules remain similar. The longest-range trajectory will be one ...
- 30.1k
5
votes
Most Efficient Glide: Pitch Up or Level Flight to Bleed Airspeed
Somewhere between a) and b).
An aircraft best converts its kinetic energy into lift when the wing is at optimal angle of attack. Here the lift to drag ratio is highest.
If one is cruising at 150 ...
- 21.3k
5
votes
Most Efficient Glide: Pitch Up or Level Flight to Bleed Airspeed
If the wind were calm, you would glide farther straight ahead if you were to pitch up to turn excess kinetic energy into potential energy. You can even fly (briefly) under stall when rounding off the ...
- 5,580
0
votes
Which shapes are classically good for fairing instersections?
When in doubt, copy something in use.
- 21k
-2
votes
Is it possible to maintain horizontal flight with the angle of attack above critical value by increasing speed?
What you are describing is what is known as "Coffin Corner". It is the part of the flight envelope where neither engine power nor angle of attack can prevent a stall. The aircraft enters ...
- 128
6
votes
Accepted
In aviation what is official abbreviation for aerodynamics?
What is abbreviation for aerodynamics?
Based on practices, there is no generally accepted abbreviation for aerodynamics, not even one seldom used.
Take this book on aerodynamics, it contains 129 ...
- 80.9k
4
votes
In aviation what is official abbreviation for aerodynamics?
Mostly I've just seen it shortened to "aero". I've never seen AD or AE. But it may vary between companies. @CatchAsCatchCan is right. If you aren't sure just spell it out.
- 5,586
3
votes
What are the reasons to use a downward vertical stabilizer?
Here's a Dornier DO-335 Pfeil from WW2.
The vertical stabiliser hanging down also did dual duty to protect the rear pusher prop from damage.
- 1,159
0
votes
Does the rotation direction of intermeshing rotors have any noticeable effect?
The correct explanation is the incomplete torque compensation because of the tilted shafts. The torque vectors of each rotor have a large z-component and a small component in y-direction. The y-...
3
votes
What are the reasons to use a downward vertical stabilizer?
A big reason missed, is that this would prevent deep stall of your vertical stabilizer. Where the vertical stabilizer loses its functionality because of the turbulent air from a stalled main wing.
...
- 263
16
votes
Accepted
What are the reasons to use a downward vertical stabilizer?
The answer provided by user71659 is very good and answers the radar-detection aspects.
One of your big questions, however, is why this unconventional design? The answer is that most aircraft are ...
- 2,950
22
votes
What are the reasons to use a downward vertical stabilizer?
The reason is to reduce radar detection from above.
Cruise missiles are designed to fly low, to avoid detection. Low altitudes make it harder to detect because the radar horizon is smaller, and things ...
- 8,180
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