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Old 26th Feb 2010, 09:35
  #67 (permalink)  
aviate1138
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
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SharkSandwich - are you sure?

Excellent? Have you ever flown one? Just about the most complicated system of trim compensation via removable weights I have ever seen. Maybe that has changed now.

A classic example of a design idea leading to a truly complicated solution. At Farnborough the prototype used nearly the entire runway to take off - in front of thousands of potential buyers! Why are there not many ducted fan designs in use? They are not very efficient. Servicing the engine is not exactly easy - buried inside the ducted fan shroud. Even with the bigger engine Old Sarum airfield seemed rather short two up and no other payload.

Ask Derek Piggott about flying the Optica. I think he called it the Flying Lightbulb.
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