h a l f b a k e r yVeni, vedi, fish velocipede
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Build a small, fast tail-less airplane with a quick and powerful variable-wing-geometry mechanism. When you want the nose to go up, sweep the wings forward a bit. When you want the nose to go down, sweep the wings back a little.
When you want to go faster, adjust the center of gravity by pumping fuel
or something, then sweep the wings back. Good luck.
Helicopter with no tail rotor
http://www.gather.c...eId=281474977472381
Likewise dispenses with a control structure for increased efficiency. [spidermother, Oct 14 2008]
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Annotation:
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[+]... you could hire a midget robot to climb over the plane changing the CG. |
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// adjust the center of gravity by pumping fuel or something // |
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....or maybe praying..... check out you have a good religion before takeoff...... |
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What is the advantage? No tail? What is the advantage over a delta wing? |
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The advantages are no tail, and no separate pitch-control surfaces/inputs. Probably a better speed range than a delta wing. |
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It uses the VG mechanism for an additional function, at the cost of having to mess with the CG to be able use the wing-sweep for speed flight. It's probably pointless, but it's possible, I think. |
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You could build a compact airplane this way, with no tail and folding wings, maybe. |
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I assume this is dynamically stabilised like a Segway. It's possible to build a static, stable, tailless aeroplane by using long, highly swept wings, but part of the wing in such designs provides downforce, which I assume you want to avoid. This could have a better lift to drag ratio than conventional designs, since the problems of the relatively non-lifting tailplane (or canard) are avoided. |
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Northrop and Mitchell have built aircraft without tails, but they still have control surfaces (very busy ailerons). |
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The 'flying wing' or "tailless' design has one persistant shortcoming - yaw control. One answer is to put a substantial dihedral into the design to give some measure of lateral control. But without a stabilising fin, landing in even a slight crosswind is a nightmare, since if the only way to turn is to drop a wing - when you're doing your best to keep the wings level - it can be a tad stressful.
It's possible to yaw by advancing and retarding the throttles, but again, on landing, it's a bit awkward - and on a jet, there's an appreciable lag between throttle movement and thrust response, if an increase in power is called for. |
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The Vulcan bomber is a nice delta design - almost a flying wing - but of course with a fin at the back. |
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Yaws, indeed. I was thinking about putting a swiveling fin in front, atop the fuselage (what there is of a fuselage) under very rapid computer control. |
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The B2 "gets away with it" because of size and inertia and (being a military aircraft) its rather luxurious power-to-weight ratio. [baconbrain] specifies "small" .... big aircraft have a measure of stability simply by the larger moments required to change attitude. |
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They tried to lose the tail fins on the F-117, but they couldn't -too small, too easy to flip over. |
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A wing, variable or static, is considered a control surface isn't it? |
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No. To qualify as a "control surface" it has to move relative to the airframe, under command. |
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//The Vulcan bomber is a nice delta design// - understatement & amen |
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