Jump to content

Airforce tests 'vortex surfing'


fatmal

Recommended Posts

Same principle is being applied to cars, with tehcnology being used to adapt an autonomous 'road train' comprised of separate cars all going to a similar destination.

 

Very interesting stuff.

 

Of course, cyclists have been doing it for decades.

 

- boingk

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Howard Hughes
A lot do that already-called tailgating

I think some of the tailgaters are too close, to have the desired effect!

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's the principle NASCAR racing is based on.

 

They started as moonshine tankers to cart from the stills to the City, and often ran with Revenuers stuck to their tails until one of the other ran off the road.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Daytona lap record was set in 1987 by Bill Elliott in a Ford at 210.364 mph/338.548 km/hr/182 kts - average speed.

 

The Daytona 500 mile record was set in 1980 by Buddy Baker at 177.6 mph/285.94 km/hr/154 kts. - average speed over 500 miles

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wikipedia is only saying they REACH those speeds; they would lose a lot in the turns, so it would be interesting to see the average lap speed.

 

Just got a comparison for Formula 1, with the all time record being set at the 1971 Italian GP at 150.754 mph/242.6 km/hr

 

Fastest speed recorded in F1 was a McLaren in 1998 at 240.19 mph/386.7 km/hr/208 kts

 

Top Fuel Drag Racing trap speed record is 333 mph/536 km/hr/288 kts

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tailgating, or being sucked along by drag, is not going to be a very effective way of saving fuel.

 

However, if you can reduce the amount of power used to generate the lift (which induces drag) by flying in a continual updraft created by an aircraft in front of you, then you can save some fuel.

 

Like I said "Geese, Swans, Ducks etc have been doing it for centuries........"

 

Arthur.

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...