Dave_Jackson
20th Jul 2006, 03:02
"The overall airplane lift-to-drag ratio can be 10 to 30, depending on the configuration, whereas the maximum a helicopter can do is 4 to 6." ~ Prouty, Rotor & Wing Jan 99
The efficiency of a propeller is around 80%. I.e. 20% of the engine's power is lost as the propeller provides forward motion to the airplane and energy to the wing for lift.
The efficiency of a transmission is about 95%.
This means that an airplane is 200% to 600% more efficient than a helicopter.
This means that an elevator is 25% more efficient than an airplane.
This means that an elevator is 250% to 900% more efficient than a helicopter.
No longer is this true.
Introducing the world's newest air vehicle ~ The Erection
Our motto is ' If you build it they will come.'
The Erection consists of two wings, which are filled with hydrogen, and a fuselage. Two cables are the only means of connecting the three parts together.
http://www.unicopter.com/Temporary/Winch.gif
When a cable is slack the connected wing will pitch up to vertical and quickly ascend.
When the cable is under tension the wing will pitch down to an angle for gliding descent.
A winch in the fuselage has two drums that each have a cable to one of the wings.
Before takeoff both winches pay out all of their cable.
They then wind the cable in, which raises the fuselage and drags down both wings.
When the cables are partially wound in, one winch will continue to reel-in its cable, while the other winch pays-out its cable and its wing ascends.
The winches then alternate in the winding in and paying-out of their cables.
The aircraft flys forward.
And now to do the very difficult Reverse-Houdini. Get back into my straight jacket. :8
The efficiency of a propeller is around 80%. I.e. 20% of the engine's power is lost as the propeller provides forward motion to the airplane and energy to the wing for lift.
The efficiency of a transmission is about 95%.
This means that an airplane is 200% to 600% more efficient than a helicopter.
This means that an elevator is 25% more efficient than an airplane.
This means that an elevator is 250% to 900% more efficient than a helicopter.
No longer is this true.
Introducing the world's newest air vehicle ~ The Erection
Our motto is ' If you build it they will come.'
The Erection consists of two wings, which are filled with hydrogen, and a fuselage. Two cables are the only means of connecting the three parts together.
http://www.unicopter.com/Temporary/Winch.gif
When a cable is slack the connected wing will pitch up to vertical and quickly ascend.
When the cable is under tension the wing will pitch down to an angle for gliding descent.
A winch in the fuselage has two drums that each have a cable to one of the wings.
Before takeoff both winches pay out all of their cable.
They then wind the cable in, which raises the fuselage and drags down both wings.
When the cables are partially wound in, one winch will continue to reel-in its cable, while the other winch pays-out its cable and its wing ascends.
The winches then alternate in the winding in and paying-out of their cables.
The aircraft flys forward.
And now to do the very difficult Reverse-Houdini. Get back into my straight jacket. :8