109-g14

[Kev367th]

75% and drops, can always dump them .

[Bronk]

Kev check your messages for a chuckle.  I swear it realy happened.

[justin_g]

Originally posted by justin_g
IMO, it's because JL.165 was a dog!

Read note 2. above the graph.

[FalconSix]

For aircraft parasitic drag is mostly the limiting factor for top speed. For cars it is usually form drag and road friction (lots of variables of course). In either case weight difference only plays a minor role unless it is excessive. In F1 cars they reduce weight primarily to improve cornering and acceleration not top speed. For a semi load will play a big part since they don't go too fast anyhow, and road friction from 18 big wheels becomes a big factor.

[Kev367th]

Yeah was a clumsy attempt to describe a more complex problem, maybe should have added theoretical no friction etc, but it gets silly.
Side benefit of lightening F1 cars is a slight increase in speed, although as you correctly said accelration is primary benefactor.

luckily enough what I worked on (Helis) drag wasn't a factor, just getting them in the air was hard enough.

[FalconSix]

For aircraft, parasitic drag is the MAJOR factor for top speed. If you take two identical P-51s except one has its surfaces polished and filled while the other has a shoddy paintjob. Add 2000 lbs of led weight to the polished one (internally), odds are that it will still be faster than the other lighter P-51. Its climb rate and acceleration would be worse of course.

It's almost a classic P-51D vs. 109G-10 match up. Pony is heavier and has better aerodynamics, but less power. 109 is lighter and has more power, but also more drag. Both are almost equal in speed, but the 109 climbs better and accelerate better.

[Kev367th]

Well yeah, this was the main reason they highly polished the Spits that were chasing down V1's.

Like I said I used a clumsy example.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OH DUH - From the graph

2. Purple line for LF.IX JL.165 @ +25lbs - this particular aircraft was noted during flight testing to have lower performance than other LF.IX previously tested at the same facility.

I'm either drinking too much or not enough to miss that.

[2Hawks]

Ok, I am a student pilot I confess, But here's what I know. (I think)

A slower plane must have a higher Angle of Attack to maintain it's altitude than an identical plane. This greater AOA causes more Drag which must me compensated with more power to achieve a higher speed and lower AOA. With a positive AOA you are really sticking that wheel out there in the air. Lets not forget about the open space through which the wheel protrudes. This will also catch air and create turbulence which creates more drag.


And as far as 30% more fuel on a car... Gas Tanks on a Car Pale in comparison to the capacities of gas tanks on planes. -- much more Weight AFAIK.

Dan.

[FalconSix]

2Hawks, at high speeds AoA is minimal, perhaps even negative on some aircraft. Induced drag only makes up a tiny part of total drag at high speeds.