Mayf,
I was referring to the shape of the car viewed from the top. Obviously not a
complete three dimensional teardrop. NT is fast because of the small hole it
piunches in the air, not because of it's shape. What streamliner have you
designed and built that set nine records?
Howard
----- Original Message -----
From: "DrMayf" <drmayf@teknett.com>
To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 4:37 PM
Subject: Re: Aerodynamics
> Danger, danger, danger...unsolicited opinions coming...warning, etc YMMV,
> hit delete now.....
>
> Well, all the hoopla over teardrop shape has me sorta laughing to myself.
> First when the idea formed up in thinking like a rain drop falling in free
> air. I want ya'll to think about that...free air. Cars are nowhere near
free
> air. They are close to the ground. Ground effects the shape. A teardrop
has
> to be cambered (flattened) on the bottom surface to keep the drag
> coefficient from growing large. Yep, Cd goes up when the teardrop shape is
> close to the ground. Now when you make half a teardrop with a flat bottom
> whatcha got? A wing for goodness sakes. What do wings do? They fly. Belly
> tanks didn't fly because they have equal lift all around. The old belly
tank
> was pretty good when it was attached to the airplane because there was
> nothing stationary around it like in a vehicle..the ground does not move
and
> the shape has to shear that air next to the ground. So what shape is the
> best? Who knows without CFD or some such..or you can look at Jack's
NT788...
>
> mayf
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