Just spent some time with Fred Larsen talking about his #115 streamliner.
Lynn Yeakle who was an engineer at Lockheed did the body on that car. I
have never seen Fred in trouble with the car but I know he has had at least
one trip to the hospital in SLC after an incident on the salt. No idea if
that was in the 'liner or the roadster. From the way Fred has tooled that
'liner up and down the salt with no incidents in the last 14 years I'd say
an aeronautical engineer did a pretty good job on the car. Then there is
the ground effects 'liner Roger Lessman brought to the salt with lexan
plastic skirts all the way around. Went pretty fast and ended up flying
very well.
Wes
----------
> From: dahlgren <dahlgren@uconect.net>
> To: Dick J <lsr_man@yahoo.com>
> CC: ARDUNDOUG@aol.com, land-speed@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Flying Streamliners
> Date: Fri, 09 Jun 2000 11:40:40 -0400
>
>I think i would welcome someone from Boeing, MD,Lockheed or maybe Bert
>Rutan I am sure has a big clue how this all works. If many don't want
>them designing for them i would gladly have them do whatever they think
>is right for me anytime
>Dahlgren
>
>
>Dick J wrote:
>>
>> That's true Doug, but the one main difference is
>> that aeronautical engineers are trained to
>> develop those aeronautics on all surfaces for a
>> vehicle that is receiving lift from it's own
>> design. The car doesn't want any lift, and there
>> are factors close to the ground that just aren't
>> fully explored in aeronautical engineering
>> classes. Even an airplane won't act the same
>> flying next to the ground as it does once it
>> reaches true air space. But I do think that
>> somebody with the background of an aeronautical
>> engineer would take all of that into
>> consideration, he'd just be making some educated
>> guesses when it comes to operating in ground
>> space and with designing the bottom of the car.
>>
>> Better an educated guess than unfounded trial
>> and error though.
>>
>> Dick J
>>
>> --- ARDUNDOUG@aol.com wrote:
>> > In a message dated 06/09/2000 4:47:32 AM
>> > Pacific Daylight Time,
>> > dwarner@electrorent.com writes:
>> >
>> > << Amen!!!
>> > >>
>> > Dan,
>> > A retired Douglas Aircraft Aeronautical
>> > Engineer from LA (now living in
>> > Twain Harte, CA) named Don Elder did the aero
>> > work on my Modified Roadster
>> > and it seems to work very well. Wind resistance
>> > is wind resistance, whether
>> > on an airplane or a car. When doing a car one
>> > just doesn't want the thing to
>> > fly.
>> > Elder does "wind-wizard" work for a number
>> > of racers, including designing
>> > wings for race cars...............Doug King
>>
>> __________________________________________________
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>
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