tartare
11th Dec 2007, 02:53
Apologies if posted before.
On looking at the A380 (and noting the built in capacity for stretch), the Spruce Goose and more lately the proposed Boeing Pelican heavy lifter, was wondering if there is in fact a physical limit on the size of heavier than air aircraft?
Seem to remember someone saying once that control surface authority would be impossible above a certain size.
(I am assuming that power would not be an issue... I'm thinking purely of the aerodynamics and physics)
Any engineers hanging out here who could comment, or know of any studies done on ultra, ultra -large aircraft. Aware that there's very rarely anything in aviation that hasn't hypothesised or studied at some point in the past...
On looking at the A380 (and noting the built in capacity for stretch), the Spruce Goose and more lately the proposed Boeing Pelican heavy lifter, was wondering if there is in fact a physical limit on the size of heavier than air aircraft?
Seem to remember someone saying once that control surface authority would be impossible above a certain size.
(I am assuming that power would not be an issue... I'm thinking purely of the aerodynamics and physics)
Any engineers hanging out here who could comment, or know of any studies done on ultra, ultra -large aircraft. Aware that there's very rarely anything in aviation that hasn't hypothesised or studied at some point in the past...