Drafting............

[colmbo]

Typically only swept wings create measurable wingtip votices.

The B-24 and B-17 don't have swept wings but the vortice is enough to roll either of them.  Been there in both types.

[Busher]

Just out of curiosity, where did you hear this?

- oldman

33 years of experience on approach at busy airports

[colmbo]

It takes very little offset to stay clear of the wake.  We got up within about 8-10 feet of the tail of the Liberator...nary a bump was felt.

[bj229r]

Dammit! Didn't you people watch Goose die in Topgun???

[Zoney]

If you are on a motorcycle and drafting, your ability to accelerate or maintain your current speed is not compromised from a loss of "thrust" because the rear wheel is still on the pavement and able to drive as hard as if there were no draft.  If you were in an aircraft, drafting another aircraft, would the gain from the draft be offset by the loss of thrust because of the low pressure that is enabling your draft?

[Babalonian]

If you are on a motorcycle and drafting, your ability to accelerate or maintain your current speed is not compromised from a loss of "thrust" because the rear wheel is still on the pavement and able to drive as hard as if there were no draft.  If you were in an aircraft, drafting another aircraft, would the gain from the draft be offset by the loss of thrust because of the low pressure that is enabling your draft?

Drafting behind road vehicles is a completely different thing than wake turbulence in aircraft Zoney.  Where vehicles have the ground effects, and ground traction - aircraft get turbulence and some aircraft creat such a huge wake (both in strength and linger/duration in the air for a time behind the a/c) that it will litteraly send another (ie: smaller) aircraft tumbling end over end if they unwittingly stray into it.  Since the air is turbulent/choppy, it is not beneficial in any way that I can think of for flight.  Think of a speed boat passing over a surface fo water that is nice and smooth or maybe 2" of waves/chop or maybe 2', or how about 20'?

[Zoney]

Thanks Babalonian, that's what I was afraid of.  There is no advantage to draft in aircraft but is actually a disadvantage.  <S>

[Babalonian]

Wake turbulence after TO @ 1:06
http://youtu.be/nLAuJCqLyMk?t=1m2s

Wake Turublence before landing, this one is a good one, definetley strong and lingered long enough that you never even see in-frame the aircraft that made it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eblVIpdb1z8

This one is educational-ish, note in the description they mention they were trying to maintain the position, but the wake turbulence (from an = sized small a/c) would notabley fling them out to the right.
http://youtu.be/oBQZ8_NCbQU?t=1m38s

Thanks Babalonian, that's what I was afraid of.  There is no advantage to draft in aircraft but is actually a disadvantage.  <S>

NP I like the food for thought.  I'm trying real hard to think of an advantage to the "persuer" and am drawing a blank.  To the guy being chased though, it's definetley an advantage-card.  Maybe deicing?

[Rob52240]

It's a little different with airplanes.  A racecar's wheels provide enough lift to make the low pressure area behind the lead car not stall.

Would this be static lift or compression lift?

Race cars are also shaped in a manner that directs most airflow over the top of the car.  This makes it a little harder for the atmosphere to fill in the low pressure area behind the race car because it happens from top to bottom instead of from all directions.

Vroom vroom Zoney <S>

[colmbo]

This one is educational-ish, note in the description they mention they were trying to maintain the position, but the wake turbulence (from an = sized small a/c) would notabley fling them out to the right.
http://youtu.be/oBQZ8_NCbQU?t=1m38s

Naw.  Didn't "fling" them out to the right.  Wing tip vortice rolls you, doesn't move you laterally.  Vortice from the right wing would have rolled him left, not right.

Been in the wake of 182s and 206s a lot flying formation skydiving loads.  It can be a bit unnerving at first but is controllable (but you might have to use a lot of control).

[hitech]

The airplane wake I enjoy flying threw the  most is my own.

HiTech

[zack1234]

That Liberator shot is awesome

[Babalonian]

Zoney's question was a good one though and still has me thinking - since it is rather benenficial with some situations in the automotive world, is there any situation where wake turbulence could be of benefit with an aircraft?  Then HiTech had to come outa left-field to remind us that all tractor prop aircraft naturally create their own before the aircraft follows, tuche.

[Rob52240]

Color dubdub2 109 guncam footage with propwash from spitfire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBm86lrCq2c

[FLS]

Then HiTech had to come outa left-field to remind us that all tractor prop aircraft naturally create their own before the aircraft follows, tuche.

You sure he wasn't talking about flying an accurate figure?  You can fly a circle and still feel your wake when you complete it.