Faster than the Wind?

[CptTrips]

Going directly downwind....level surface...no energy storage?  Accelerate beyond the driving wind speed and maintain that (not just briefly)?

A friend told me about this and we had a loooong discussion.  However, after reading the Wired articles, I'm a least intruiged at this point:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/06/downwind-faster-than-the-wind/
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/07/downwind-faster-than-the-wind-possible-and-theyll-prove-it
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/07/its-settled-downwind-faster-than-the-wind-officially-possible/
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/08/ddwfttw/all/1

http://www.fasterthanthewind.org/


Still sounds a little like cold fusion to me.

,
Wab

[Ex-jazz]

Wind speed combined with the speed wind...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_faster_than_the_wind

[CptTrips]

Wind speed combined with the speed wind...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_faster_than_the_wind

I'm sure you understand, but for the ADHD types,  we are NOT talking about tacking at an angle to the wind (as they might assume if they only read the first paragraph of your link).

What I am refering to is traveling directly downwind (as discussed down at the bottom of the link you provided).

,
Wab 

[Ex-jazz]

I'm sure you understand, but for the ADHD types,  we are NOT talking about tacking at an angle to the wind (as they might assume if they only read the first paragraph of your link).

What I am refering to is traveling directly downwind (as discussed down at the bottom of the link you provided).

,
Wab 

It's official... I'm a ADHD type, since I just read only a topic text 

Well, my good intention was to provide more information, but actually I'm a leaner myself. Thanks for the lesson

[CptTrips]

It's official... I'm a ADHD type, since I just read only a topic text 

Well, my good intention was to provide more information, but actually I'm a leaner myself. Thanks for the lesson

Well, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.

,
Wab

[Dragon]

What is "How did the surgeon run after cutting the cheese in the OR?

[druski85]

Yea, but will the plane take off? 

 

[BoilerDown]

So basically the work done by the wind in moving the propeller car forward isn't just tied up in how far it moved, but also in how fast it turns the prop via the wheels (turning in opposite direction of a "pinwheeling" prop).  Kind of a mind bender at first but I think I have a handle on it now after reading the wiki page.