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Old 29th Jun 2011, 18:02
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cwatters
 
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Can also point out that drag is actually proportional to the drag coefficient times velocity squared. So fuel consumption is proportional to velocity cubed.

Means a 10% change in speed is much more important than a 10% change in the drag coefficient.

This was the approach taken with the Gossamer Condor. They opted to minimise flying speed whereas most other attempts at man powered flight had concentrated on minimising drag.
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