Re: Misconceptions: Physics of Flight

[brian whatcott <inet@INTELLISYS.NET>]

Michael Edmiston wrote (in part):
> ***************************************************************
> Although I personally do not like Bernoulli analysis as a means to
> explain lift, I believe it is an analysis that is reasonably valid.
> However, to use it you have to know the velocities.  These velocities
> are best measured in a wind tunnel.  But once you have a particular
> airfoil in a wind tunnel at some angle of attack and some overall air
> velocity, why measure velocity differences and calculate lift when you
> can directly measure lift (and drag) from your airfoil support
> mechanism?
> *****************************************************************

At 16:16 8/12/99 -0500, Jack Uretsky responded:

> Because for some purposes it is important to know the pressure
> distribution on the wing. ....
>                                                        Jack

To name just one: the rivets, stitches or glue holding the upper
wing surface down to ribs have to meet the limit air load. If not,
observers note that the upper surface rises (on a fabric wing)
the trailing edge moves towards the spar, and the
ribs fail in compression/buckling. Not a pretty sight, apparently.





brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK