6 ms·
very cool design, one of the few airframes that can gain altitude without pitching up -- this is an important safety feature as it reduces chance to stall. On
by serf 6y ago
very cool design, one of the few airframes that can gain altitude without pitching up -- this is an important safety feature as it reduces chance to stall.
On the flipside, though, stalling a Ligeti Stratos is probably a major event since it's almost a flying-wing.
- StavrosK 6y agoFlying wings stall just fine, what makes you think otherwise?
- sokoloff 6y agoGiven the original designer was killed by stalling it on approach to land, I’d say the safety benefit is unproven at best.
- burlesona 6y agoWait, the designer of this plane died landing it?
- sokoloff 6y agoYes. “During a short test flight of the new highly modified production version in September 1987 the airplane stalled during approach to landing and Charles Ligeti was killed.” [0] http://ligeti-stratos.com/history.html http://ligeti-stratos.com/history.html
- FlyMoreRockets 6y agoNo, different plane. “During a short test flight of the new highly modified production version"
- sokoloff 6y agoIt was a modified version of the prototype upon which the current efforts are based. That’s not cleanly “exactly same” nor “totally different” airplane design, but the mishap airplane was clearly closer to this effort than to a 172.
- p_l 6y agoRemember that stalling is related to angle of attack of the wing and the speed. You can stall in a dive, even (it's hard, though :D) In fact, all planes can gain altitude without pitching up, by increasing speed, and by decreasing speed can lower altitude. The resulting lifting force on the wings is for most important flight regimes a function of speed and angle of attack.
- gabereiser 6y agoThis is taught in basic flight school. Power is lift, not pitching up.
- p_l 6y agoThe things that are covered in first chapters of flight theory textbook for pilots, but which confound otherwise very knowledgeable laymen, can be summarised as close to all of them ;)
- TeMPOraL 6y agoAny recommendations on the books? Because I'm definitely confounded. I assume that AoA=0 and flat wing (not a teardrop-shaped one) would not lift off despite increasing the engine power (assuming no wind). Is that correct? I'm very much confused by what you're saying - given that "lifting force on the wings is for most important flight regimes a function of speed and angle of attack", isn't it easier to change the AoA, by operating the control surfaces and pitching the plane, instead of adding or reducing speed?
- TylerE 6y agoIn takeoff and landing, the most critical phases of fight, the range of useable pitch is fairly narrow... too much and you bang the tail into the ground. Too little and you strike the prop. The way you’re taught to land you use the controls is basically backwards - the elevators (pitch) control speed. The throttle controls rate of descent.
- 6y ago