3 ms·
I wonder if flying discs are like flying wings, and that their downsides become upsides with a sufficiently advanced control mechanism, like fly by wire?
by Aelinsaar 10y ago
I wonder if flying discs are like flying wings, and that their downsides become upsides with a sufficiently advanced control mechanism, like fly by wire?
- theoh 10y agoAdvanced control systems could certainly prevent instability causing the upside to become the downside.
- Animats 10y agoIt seems to work at model scale.[1] Geobat got a working saucer-like model flying. It's not VTOL; it's an an airplane with a circular wing. Their "disc" is a swept back curved wing that continues around until it meets the tail. It has conventional rudders and elevators, unlike the AvroCar, which was entirely thrust-controlled. GeoBat tried to get IndieGoGo funding for a full size aircraft, but bombed out at 2% funded.[2] Wind tunnel testing indicated good stall characteristics but less lift than conventional designs. Here's a modern analysis of a circular wing, as a PhD thesis.[3] This uses the "blown wing" concept, an idea which has great theoretical potential and has been tried a few times, but has been only marginally successful in practice. [1] https://vimeo.com/65578829 https://vimeo.com/65578829 [2] https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/geobat-saucer-aircraft#/ https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/geobat-saucer-aircraft#/ [3] https://core.ac.uk/download/files/14/337571.pdf https://core.ac.uk/download/files/14/337571.pdf
- Aelinsaar 10y agoInteresting things to consider, and I appreciate all of the informative links.