All Things Aviation Related

[john70t]

Not sure how this flies with three people in front..but it does.

[svandamme]

anybody know model/type?
looks very efficient design with that ducted fan?

[pavulon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgley_Optica

[svandamme]

thanks, looks pretty cool
must have great outwards visibility for pilot and passengers

[pavulon]

could see it used for photography but would imagine drones have most of that market today.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

I think I see what they did with the duct and air flow...

Depending on the stators, ducted fans are extremely efficient.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgley_Optica

I would love to fly it.

[t6dpilot]

That is the P-40 I flew. Might even be me in that pic.

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

[93nav]

Edgley Optica

1/4 to 1/3 of the operating costs. Also, longer range/duration (8 hrs at loiter). Also quieter.

As I recall, the airframe is not as efficient/clean as thought. After the first prototype, they had to go to a larger engine. IO-360 to IO-540.

I want one.

Originally Posted by tcar

Novelty only...

Like a small helicopter with virtually none of the utility of one....

[TRE Cup]

Condor squadron VNY west side of the airport
These guys do some great formation flying on the holidays over Los Angeles
Darn it the pic won't upload

[abisel]

Before:



After:



Historians are a bit upset at what the Egyptians did to the aircraft:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5231593/Egyptians-World-War-II-RAF-Kittyhawk-plane-makeover.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHcB7jQj0T0

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by t6dpilot

That is the P-40 I flew. Might even be me in that pic.

That's pretty cool!
I love P-40's.

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Depending on the stators, ducted fans are extremely efficient.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgley_Optica

I would love to fly it.

Question for the braintrust after reading that Wiki article:

Is it typical for an aircraft to have a cruising speed that close to stall speed (81mph vs 67mph)?

[Hawkeye's-911T]

Is it typical for an aircraft to have a cruising speed that close to stall speed (81mph vs 67mph)?

An extreme case or example I grant you, but think about the 'coffin corner' of the U-2.
To your point - you'd better keep your attention on your instruments & the full-time job at hand.

[93nav]

If I read the Wiki correctly, that 81mph is at 40% power and is the best loiter speed when they are trying to maximize endurance. Max speed is 132, so a normal cruising speed may be closer to 110-115mph (75% power). Just guessing.

Originally Posted by BReif61

Question for the braintrust after reading that Wiki article:

Is it typical for an aircraft to have a cruising speed that close to stall speed (81mph vs 67mph)?

[pavulon]

Could see that issue driving the switch to a more powerful engine.

Originally Posted by BReif61

Question for the braintrust after reading that Wiki article:

Is it typical for an aircraft to have a cruising speed that close to stall speed (81mph vs 67mph)?

[svandamme]

I think it's a case of
cruise speed means different things to different people
it's supposed to be a low speed observation aircraft..
so cruise speed is meant for long loiter, low noise, low speed, low fuel consumption

Where as other aircraft cruise speed is meant to get somewhere in reasonable speed at best possible fuel consumption ?



could also be a Wiki mistake, because in the article it's listed as loiter speed of 81 mph
and in the specs it's called cruise speed , for same speed indicated

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by 93nav

If I read the Wiki correctly, that 81mph is at 40% power and is the best loiter speed when they are trying to maximize endurance. Max speed is 132, so a normal cruising speed may be closer to 110-115mph (75% power). Just guessing.

Originally Posted by svandamme

I think it's a case of
cruise speed means different things to different people
it's supposed to be a low speed observation aircraft..
so cruise speed is meant for long loiter, low noise, low speed, low fuel consumption

Where as other aircraft cruise speed is meant to get somewhere in reasonable speed at best possible fuel consumption ?

Knowing that this is Wikipedia that we are talking about, everything must be taken with a degree of skepticism. But wouldn't an airplane that operates on that thin of a margin be extremely susceptible to crashing?

IE, couldn't a sudden strong tailwind stall the wings?

[abisel]

... and then there was Capt Kelso in his P40:

[pavulon]

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by BReif61

Knowing that this is Wikipedia that we are talking about, everything must be taken with a degree of skepticism. But wouldn't an airplane that operates on that thin of a margin be extremely susceptible to crashing?

IE, couldn't a sudden strong tailwind stall the wings?

Only on take off and landing. Interesting video if you can handle the narration.



Up and away you are basically flying "with" the wind.