[NSRCA-discussion] Airplane angle of attack

[John Ferrell]

I don't think the fuse is cylindrical in most airplanes and I know deck 
angle is not the same as angle of attack.
All drag is likely engineered to the extreme because it costs fuel with 
every moment of operation.

John Ferrell    W8CCW
"Life is easier if you learn to plow
       around the stumps"
http://DixieNC.US

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Hill" <jh102649 at speakeasy.net>
To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 8:08 AM
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Airplane angle of attack


> This is a question about full size airplanes that has some
> applicability to model design. We're talking about airliners that
> have an essentially cylindrical fuse.
>
> I'm having a debate with a friend at work about whether or not full
> scale airliners fly slightly nose up. I claim they do he claims they
> don't.
>
> I claim they do because the airflow would be more stable about a
> cylindrical body that was at a slight angle of attack, and that if
> you make it nose up you also gain a little lift.
>
> He claims that airliners fly with no AOA in the fuse because the last
> thing a designer wants is lift from the fuse because lift generates
> drag, the fuse is not a good shape for generating lift, and
> consequently it isn't worth paying the drag penalty.
>
> What do you all think?
>
> Jeff Hill
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