This "vortice ball" effect is how moths and butterflies and most insects fly. And it works only because of the aerodynamic viscosity effect at very small scales. Stiff flat wings make that effect possible.
Once you get above the size of a small hummingbird the effect vanishes. Then you...
Well I guess it's onto something else.
I designed an airframe to hold 27million lbs of fuel that weighs in at just over 240,000 lbs empty, including engines, landing gear and payload. Its just a bit bigger than an Airbus A380. This is larger than what I expected it to be, by about 20+% in...
Enigma,
That is why I need the formulas (in non-calculus form) to prove/disprove the idea.
Yes, I know the craft will be big, I need to figure out how big. If its anywhere near 400 lb/lb (and I don't have issue with that number) then it's onto something else. But I suspect (gut feel) it's...
Travis, I really appreciate your response. There were a few things I didn't figure on, but no show-stoppers.
I think, in fairness to you and Enigma, and the others that responded, I need to explain what exactly I am trying to define. With the exception of exactly how I will make these...
I am confused. How do I derive the range for a given velocity or vice versa? My quick glance at the equation does not reveal a factor for range.
There is no "range" for an orbit, only an "altitude" or orbital radius/diameter. Do I then have to intersect that orbital diameter with the...
Thank you, I now have some studying to do.
But it looks like the equation relates to orbital insertion, or attaining about 17,000+mph. I need sub orbital, or around (wild guess at this point) 10,000mph, or am I missing something?
The one big part of my problem, which I need to do first...
The "I believe button":confused: Are you being sarcastic? I know what I am asking for is a stretch and I'm not looking for the "ideal equation", just something that can ballpark the fuel loads and trajectories.
If I can calculate the max fuel load and thrust, just to loft the fuel load, I...
Thanks Enigma. Looks good, but and a BIG BUT here, it is way beyond my math comprehension. And even at that, how does it translate to EXCEL level math?
I know there are long involved equations that reduce calculus to algebra, but I think these have to be individually developed. I don't...
I know Matlab is the way to go, but my math skills are not up to even its basic understanding, and I don't have the formulas to begin with. I know EXCEL very well, and I'm not after precision calcs. I need "close enough".
All I am trying to do is some basic calcs at various ranges...
I would like some "simple" (yeah, right!) math formulas that I can create an EXCEL spreadsheet to calculate flight profiles for a sub-orbital space plane with a 2,000 to 12,000 mile range. Please note, my math skills are 45 years old. If, as I suspect it will, calculus is involved, I would need...
Just Google ornithopter Canada for 2 flying designs from the University of Toronto.
One is human powered and the other is small engine powered, and flew in 2006.
The engine powered craft is now residing at the Downsview airport Air and Space Museum in Toronto, but not for much longer as...