ORIGINAL: rmh
Do not compare efficiencies with area!
The large fuse adds lift but not an equal amount (area to area) - nor should you likely want that -
IF efficiency were equal -things would get touchy
If you have ever made a large flat (profile fuselage) you would have noted the model does not turn as it a rolls -it simply assumes a different attitude. very strange.
However properly setup it can work to an advantage.
If efficiencies were equal, everything would get EASY. Or have you ever computed a Reynold's number? And if you have, how many of the variables did you zero out? A flat surface has NO lift efficiency, zero, you're talking apples and oranges here. Point in fact, a flat surface has zero LIFT, in the context we are using the word. Flat on both sides is not an air foil. Flat doesn't fly, it channels. Area times efficiency gives you lift, when you are talking about AIR FOILS. Plus about 21(not about 21, exactly 21) other variables, if you consider Reynolds. But even then, the percentage of error will only approach 20%; so, we do the field work; like Bryan has done. Every BIT of classroom or book data came from someone like Bryan, out in the field. We learn from the field guys; academics may point the way, theoretically, on occasion; but it still gets down to what actually happens in the field. And that, on occasion, is a complete surprise to the theoreticians. Occasionally, we learn that the facts we came up with, to fit the observations we made, were wrong. In order to be proven, a fact must be repeatable. That's why it is a good idea to try Triangulation Trimming. I have a wall full of trophies this year to demonstrate its repeatability.
It only makes good scientific sense to remain open to new thoughts, to test new setups; that's why we come here and exchange ideas. We want to expand our knowledge and our capabilities. Otherwise, we'd all being flying Spads, jenny's or Sopwiths and would have never progressed to an Arrow, a Dalotel, an Aurora, Typhoon, Prophecy, Patriot, Shinden, Spark, etc, etc. We learn, we grow, we progress.
Brian Clemmons