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Old 13th Sep 2012, 06:12
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pattern_is_full
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Denver
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The Concorde took off with no flaps/slats on every flight (it didn't have any!)

It did have some droop built into the leading edge, along with other aerodynamic refinements, that gave some of the effect of slats at low speeds without compromising the clean form needed for supersonic flight.

Vr was ~178-197 kts depending on weight. With special tires to handle the higher speeds.

At the other end of the scale, the original Piper J3 Cub also had no flaps. But as with janetflight's 152, Vr for small planes is usually about 50% of their maximum cruise speed. The much smaller (2:1) speed envelope means they can operate flapless throughout the envelope if desired - with the option of forward slip to induce sink on final.

A 757 (et al) flown J3-style with no high-lift devices for takeoff would also rotate at about 50% of max. cruise (in the thick air inhabited by 152s and J3s ) - or about the same speeds as the Concorde.

Last edited by pattern_is_full; 13th Sep 2012 at 06:13.
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