NuttyPro67
New member
Absolutely, I agree from my limited knowledge. To answer a previous contributors question about the need for wings, they really aren't all that useful past the sound barrier. Infact, most jets completely lack a lift generating airfoil on the wing, simply using it to help keep the jet going in one direction like large horizontal stabilizers. For proof, here is a video of an F-15 that landed with ONE WING!
Essentially, the wings are only useful for helping the jet change direction and maintain its current direction - concepts that are only useful when your in a combat situation. Consider it like having more traction or bigger tires on your car. However, without the combat situation, the push the engines provide to change and maintain direction is more than enough for our purposes.
However, you still want to land and takeoff like an airplane so you need enough wing area to make takeoff possible without breaking the sound barrier. The important number here is the wing loading, basically the amount of weight each square foot of wing has to hold up, usually calculated by dividing the total weight by the total wing area. The higher the wing loading, the faster you have to go to become and stay airborn. This is why the recent X-33 takeoffs like a rocket and lands like an airplane. With a full fuel load, the wing loading is too high for it to takeoff like an airplane, so they get it up like a rocket. While the empty load is just fine for landing.
Great progress Moach, I'm itching to get your next WIP in my orbiter!
However, you still want to land and takeoff like an airplane so you need enough wing area to make takeoff possible without breaking the sound barrier. The important number here is the wing loading, basically the amount of weight each square foot of wing has to hold up, usually calculated by dividing the total weight by the total wing area. The higher the wing loading, the faster you have to go to become and stay airborn. This is why the recent X-33 takeoffs like a rocket and lands like an airplane. With a full fuel load, the wing loading is too high for it to takeoff like an airplane, so they get it up like a rocket. While the empty load is just fine for landing.
Great progress Moach, I'm itching to get your next WIP in my orbiter!
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