Northrop Grumman Firebird
Posted by RLoret@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 16 comments
Posted by RLoret@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 16 comments
Ok_Butterfly_9722@reddit
Anyone know why the booms stick out in front of the wings?
mcesh@reddit
From /u/fullouterjoin ‘s links, the rear landing gear retract forward and stow in them
KokoTheTalkingApe@reddit
Nice!
The question got me wondering why do the rudders extend a little below the booms?
And come to that, is there some reason why rudders are swept back, other than looking cool?
GlockAF@reddit
The lower rudder / vertical fin extensions are probably sacrificial in nature, there to soak up the abrasion if it over-rotates on T/O or landing
KokoTheTalkingApe@reddit
Makes sense!
But what about raking the rudder back? I can see why it matters for the wings and maybe the horizontal stabilizer, but the vertical? I notice on the very latest fighter jets, the vertical stabilizer has a nearly vertical front edge. But it isn't vertical. Why not?
Res_Con@reddit
It gives you more moment-arm on the planform area of the stabilizer - basically for free - and it makes the leading edge tapered so to delay shock formation for trans-sonic planes - and looks good too.
Also, which "very latest fighter jets, the vertical stabilizer has a nearly vertical front edge" - can't think of any - all are like at least 30 degrees raked back.
KokoTheTalkingApe@reddit
More moment arm makes sense for the trailing edge, with the rudders, but the front edge? This Firebird isn't transsonic. But looking good is enough.
Re fighter jets, I can't tell you what I was looking at, but the front edges of the F-22's rudders are maybe 20 degrees from vertical. It's hard to tell because they're also splayed outward. But it's striking that they aren't tilted more, and also that the rear edges are tilted forward, not back.
GlockAF@reddit
Maybe structural? Raking the leading edge of the vertical stab enables the connection to the booms to be at a bias versus a straight 90 degree connection, spreads the loads out
series_hybrid@reddit
On rear propeller planes, there is often some body element that would hit he ground during an unexpected over-rotation, in order to protect the propeller from striking the ground.
MrEff1618@reddit
I believe it's to allow it to carry cameras and sensors and give them a wide angle of view. In some of the pictures you can see them with different housings, presumably for different types of equipment.
LP14255@reddit
It is similar to the Adam Air A500 and also the Cessna 337, both of which were push pull instead of just push only.
doingthethrowaways@reddit
That thing is sweet
dirty_hooker@reddit
/r/prettywings
MTkenshi@reddit
This thing is neat! The production model possibly pilot optional, and is designed to be broken down and shipped in a standard shipping container.
Scaled Composites calls it the Old School. Not sure if I can link here, but it's on their site under that name.
fullouterjoin@reddit
https://scaled.com/portfolio/oldschool/
https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/scaled-uas-demand-brought-old-school-back-life
Hey /r/RLoret drop some links next time!
Iliyan61@reddit
god burt rutan designed some awesome and silly looking planes… you can just tell instantly it’s his design lol