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Old 05-07-2004 | 03:17 PM
  #80  
adam_one
 
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Stockholm, SWEDEN
Default RE: basic aerodynamics

yes - first -no formed dihedral- the wing is flat.
secondly -the wing is an ellipse of very low aspect ratio- quite insensitive to yaw induced assymetrical lift.
The proof - you can apply hard rudder and with no cross control - the plane turns tight flat circles -very tight just a few spans long.
looks almost like a flat spin but is not.
The rudder when applied-produces an adverse yaw -which balances the lift differences in the wing panels (more lift on faster moving outboard panel)
The lateral area of the fuselage is such that there is a very high % of area foward of the CG- not enough to self servo or wiggle but enough to make yawing extremely easy.
the loading is quite low under 4 oz ft so that AOA for normal flight is at an angle not much above zero .
very clean setup .
What are your thoughts on how this works?
I have never seen textbook data which applies.
the fact is - the model acts much like a round planform wing - -totally insensitive to yaw -the Leading Edge, is a smooth constant curve from one tip to the other.
Dick,
Your description makes sense but I guess it refers only to why your foamies are neutrally stable regarding just two axis: Directional and/or lateral stability (yaw and/or in roll).
However, I'm quite curious to hear your description why your foamies also are neutrally stable regarding longitudinal stability (stability in pitch)?