Can dimpling the skin of a jet airliner increase fuel efficiency?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of dimpling the skin of a jet airliner to potentially increase fuel efficiency by reducing air friction, drawing parallels to the dimpling of golf balls and other sports equipment. Participants explore the aerodynamic implications of such a modification.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that dimpling the skin of a jet airliner could reduce air friction and increase fuel efficiency, similar to how dimples on a golf ball enhance its flight.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism, noting that aircraft are already optimized aerodynamically and raises concerns that dimpling might negatively affect the lift characteristics of wings and control surfaces.
  • A different participant counters that dimples do not prevent a golf ball from lifting and emphasizes that the fuselage of an airliner is not a lifting surface.
  • One participant references an external link to support their points regarding aerodynamics.
  • Another participant acknowledges the complexity of the topic by mentioning that the fuselage's role can vary, citing the space shuttle as an example of a lifting body.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility and implications of dimpling an airliner’s fuselage, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully explored the aerodynamic principles involved, and there are unresolved assumptions regarding the effects of dimpling on lift and drag characteristics.

Psi 5
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I've had this idea for a while. I can't see anything wrong with it. Maybe someone here can tell me if it's unsound.

The idea is based on the dimpling of a golf ball. To my knowledge the dimpling of a golf ball reduces air friction and let's it go farther. I even heard of someone dimpling a bat so they could swing faster. Some golf club heads have dimples too.

My idea is to dimple the skin of a jet airliner. Since they pretty much cruise at a constant airspeed the dimpling could be optimized for that speed to reduce air friction and increase fuel efficiency. Is there some physics reason why this wouldn't work?
 
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Aircraft are pretty well thought-out from an aerodynamic aspect already. The main concern that I would have regarding dimpling is that it would mess up the lift factor of the wings and control surfaces.
 
Possible but dimples don't keep a golf ball from lifting. Also the fuselage isn't a lifting surface.
 
Psi 5 said:
Also the fuselage isn't a lifting surface.
It depends. The space shuttle is a lifting body.

EDIT: Deleted. The link Zapper posted says it better than I can.
 
Last edited:

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