X302

[Kaziarl]

Ok, so this isn't a Trek tech question, but I'm not sure we have a Gate tech section, so hopefully this will be ok. I'm watching Stargate, and I got to thinking about the X302. Aerodynamically speaking, could the X302 actually fly? I don't really know much about aerodynamics, but it seems like the wings would force the ship down, instead of allowing it to fly.

 

[sojourner]

Based on solely the wing orientation it could possibly fly as seen on the Grumman X-29. Other than that, I don't think the shape looks very viable.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Reverse sweep wings have been used before.

Inverse dihedral wings have been used before.

The landing gear would be interesting.

 

[Kaziarl]

Reverse sweep wings have been used before.

Inverse dihedral wings have been used before.

The landing gear would be interesting.

Where? I know Sojourner mentioned the X-29, with the forward sweeping wings. They even have aircraft that can go from that position to a more traditional wing style. But I've never seen anything that has the wings going forward, and arched downward at the same time. Again, my understanding of aerodynamics is limited, but as I've always believed the shape of the wing builds a high pressure area below, and slightly behind the leading edge of the wing. I don't see how the X-302 configuration would be able to achieve that.

 

[sojourner]

As long as the cross section of the wing in relation to the direction of air moving over it is an airfoil, it should provide lift. Now, if you took horizontal wings and just "bent them down" you would be changing that cross section in relation to air movement, but a wing designed from the start to be angled, would continue to have the proper cross section for lift.

Um, does that make sense?

 

[caisson2delta]

I also think, with todays fly by wire technology, just about anything can be made to fly. I read an article once about the F117 stealth that stated, if it weren't for computer controlled flight assistance, the thing would never fly. It has horrible aerodynamics and apparently bad lift, but the computers on board accommodate for all this.

 

[Good]

I also think, with todays fly by wire technology, just about anything can be made to fly. I read an article once about the F117 stealth that stated, if it weren't for computer controlled flight assistance, the thing would never fly. It has horrible aerodynamics and apparently bad lift, but the computers on board accommodate for all this.

Agreed, and besides, you put enough engines on a brick and it will fly. The 302 has what, like 3 different engine systems?

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Inverse dihedral was used on the F-104 Starfighter.

Reverse sweep was exemplifed in the X-29.

I'm not aware of a RL design with both of these features, but as long as the airfoil cross section is designed with these two factors in mind, the Bernoulli effect can be achieved, and thus, lift.

And said effect works opposite of your idea. The longer path across the top of the wing causes a low pressure area above the wing, while pressure below the wing stays close to ambient.