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That is not necessary true. A flying wing can be made completely stable. The biggest issue with flying wings is for passengers experiencing much more up and d

That is not necessary true. A flying wing can be made completely stable. The biggest issue with flying wings is for passengers experiencing much more up and down movements. Their position is (specially for the most backwards ones) more towards the wingtips. As you can understand a slight correction will move you a few meters up or down. Constantly.

the_watcher 7y ago
While you are likely technically correct, in terms of passenger experience, pretty much everyone will disagree with this assessment of "stable".
- PhasmaFelis 7y ago
  True, but we were specifically discussing aerodynamic stability and how it might affect safety, training, and regulation. The quality of the ride is a separate issue.
- briandear 7y ago
  Stability in aeronautics is the tendency for an airplane to remain in equilibrium without control inputs. A helicopter is unstable, a Cessna is very stable. Comfort is a different metric. You can have a comfortable helicopter ride even though the aircraft is unstable. Comfort is also subjective, while stability is not.
- laughinghan 7y ago
  To be clear: you are being downvoted because your grandparent comment specifically said "aerodynamically unstable". That's why everyone thinks it's so clear in context that your parent comment was referring to the technical, aeronautical meaning of "stable".
maxxxxx 7y ago
Good point! Looking at the wings of a regular airplane it definitely would be a pretty crazy ride sitting out there while the plane is banking.
- schiffern 7y ago
  One of the cited advantages is that the pressurized passenger tubes make the wing structure far more rigid to bending loads, because it has such a deep beam profile compared to a traditional wing. The observation of wing motion really reveals a disadvantage in traditional airplane structures. The wing planform is passively stable without a tail, so there should be no issues related to certification as suggested upthread. Source for both is this video from the designer: https://www.jbenad.com/news/2015/2/4/flyingv https://www.jbenad.com/news/2015/2/4/flyingv
b_tterc_p 7y ago
Economy Minus!
- KMag 7y ago
  Just market it as a roller-coaster seat.
Darkphibre 7y ago
He does talk about gusts and stability in the video (around 34min in). Not the greatest communicator, but it does seem like they've put some thought into the concepts.
m463 7y ago
lots of interesting questions come to mind. Would the best seats still be in the front? I think of riding a schoolbus... I know the rearmost seats were bumpier, but were the calmest seats near the center or the front? where should you put the bathrooms? Also, should the plane flex or should it be rigid?

the_watcher 7y ago

While you are likely technically correct, in terms of passenger experience, pretty much everyone will disagree with this assessment of "stable".

PhasmaFelis 7y ago
True, but we were specifically discussing aerodynamic stability and how it might affect safety, training, and regulation. The quality of the ride is a separate issue.
briandear 7y ago
Stability in aeronautics is the tendency for an airplane to remain in equilibrium without control inputs. A helicopter is unstable, a Cessna is very stable. Comfort is a different metric. You can have a comfortable helicopter ride even though the aircraft is unstable. Comfort is also subjective, while stability is not.
laughinghan 7y ago
To be clear: you are being downvoted because your grandparent comment specifically said "aerodynamically unstable". That's why everyone thinks it's so clear in context that your parent comment was referring to the technical, aeronautical meaning of "stable".

maxxxxx 7y ago

Good point! Looking at the wings of a regular airplane it definitely would be a pretty crazy ride sitting out there while the plane is banking.

schiffern 7y ago
One of the cited advantages is that the pressurized passenger tubes make the wing structure far more rigid to bending loads, because it has such a deep beam profile compared to a traditional wing. The observation of wing motion really reveals a disadvantage in traditional airplane structures. The wing planform is passively stable without a tail, so there should be no issues related to certification as suggested upthread. Source for both is this video from the designer: https://www.jbenad.com/news/2015/2/4/flyingv https://www.jbenad.com/news/2015/2/4/flyingv

b_tterc_p 7y ago

Economy Minus!

KMag 7y ago
Just market it as a roller-coaster seat.

Darkphibre 7y ago

He does talk about gusts and stability in the video (around 34min in). Not the greatest communicator, but it does seem like they've put some thought into the concepts.

m463 7y ago

lots of interesting questions come to mind. Would the best seats still be in the front? I think of riding a schoolbus... I know the rearmost seats were bumpier, but were the calmest seats near the center or the front? where should you put the bathrooms? Also, should the plane flex or should it be rigid?