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3 votes

What are the key differentiating factors between the flight control systems employed in unmanned drones and those utilized in piloted aerial vehicles?

The primary difference is liability, which drives a chain of other items. There is an expectation of the various parties involved in approving, licensing and insuring aircraft that there is a clearly ...
GremlinWranger's user avatar
1 vote
Accepted

Are there equations to match power required to mass for rotorcraft?

The simplest way is using the momentum theory, by which the thrust $T$ generated by a rotor is: $ T = k\sqrt[3]{2 \rho A P^2} $ where $A$ is the rotor area, $\rho$ is the density and $P$ the power ...
sophit's user avatar
  • 8,302
1 vote

Are there equations to match power required to mass for rotorcraft?

In a hover, the figure of merit $FM$ is defined as the ratio of the ideal power required to the actual power required. $FM=\frac{P_\mathrm{ideal}}{P}$ Typical values for the figure of merit are about ...
Rob McDonald's user avatar
  • 6,046
3 votes

Has putting car tires over wings ever been used to protect the aircraft from airborne attack?

This sounds like an attempt at disruptive coloration. The use of car tires likely has no significance beyond the fact that military bases tend to have a lot of tires in them which can be repurposed in ...
Anonymous Physicist's user avatar

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