Quote:
Originally posted by fastpat
Drag moves the aerodynamic center of pressure rearward, acellerating rotates the vehicle around the center of gravity, the center of gravity depends on where on the vehicle the weight is located, and does not change with wind drag factored in. The aerodynamic center of pressure is affected by the shapes of everything on any vehicle moving through the air, and since you have plenty of "dragy" things hitting the air, that has the affect of rotating your craft around the center of gravity even in steady state movement, with no acelleration or decelleration.
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Pat, that is a very clear, simple and understandable description of what goes on, thank you very much. It's like I have to relearn everything I have not thought about since early college.
On a special note, apply all that Pat has said, and add in hull drag for a boat or hovercarft skirt in my case.
A friend e-mailed me this link, the early start of one of my favorite hovercraft designers.
http://members.aol.com/buftec/buf/red.html
