Comments on: Ground Effect Vehicles http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles A collection of Damn Interesting things Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:31:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: kasutt http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles#comment-25627 kasutt Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:28:59 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=523#comment-25627 Wow! A good old-fashioned flame war. And about metrification, at that. ;) I'm a little late to the discussion - about three years - but altitudes have been measured in feet since the dawn of aviation. That august body known as ICAO would love to "harmonize" practices, but a century of cockpit discipline and a half-century of ATC terminology are formidable barriers. And yes, Americans come in two flavors with regard to systems metric: lots of us know both "The Metric System" and the English system; lots of us don't know either one. Waesucks! (cf. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waesucks). Wow! A good old-fashioned flame war. And about metrification, at that. ;) I’m a little late to the discussion – about three years – but altitudes have been measured in feet since the dawn of aviation. That august body known as ICAO would love to “harmonize” practices, but a century of cockpit discipline and a half-century of ATC terminology are formidable barriers. And yes, Americans come in two flavors with regard to systems metric: lots of us know both “The Metric System” and the English system; lots of us don’t know either one. Waesucks! (cf. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waesucks).

]]> By: navroan http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles#comment-24436 navroan Tue, 05 May 2009 13:40:33 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=523#comment-24436 I would assume that since the pelican is a 'hybrid' it would fly like a normal plane when it approaches land, and then assume the high efficiency ground effect cruise after it gets many miles out. I would assume that since the pelican is a ‘hybrid’ it would fly like a normal plane when it approaches land, and then assume the high efficiency ground effect cruise after it gets many miles out.

]]> By: navroan http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles#comment-24435 navroan Tue, 05 May 2009 13:38:27 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=523#comment-24435 Now, I'm not a pilot, but a plane with a 492.12 ft (150m) wingspan flying 20 feet off the ground at any real speed would be a rather nerve wracking experience to fly. As a scale comparison, roughly the height at which your car is off the ground. =p If it became a reality, I'm sure in practice it would probably sit a little higher than that for safety... but there's still that bird problem, especially as you approach land. Now, I’m not a pilot, but a plane with a 492.12 ft (150m) wingspan flying 20 feet off the ground at any real speed would be a rather nerve wracking experience to fly. As a scale comparison, roughly the height at which your car is off the ground. =p If it became a reality, I’m sure in practice it would probably sit a little higher than that for safety… but there’s still that bird problem, especially as you approach land.

]]> By: fido http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles#comment-19189 fido Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:59:38 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=523#comment-19189 Anybody tried a Wigan kebab ? 3 pies on a stick ! Anybody tried a Wigan kebab ? 3 pies on a stick !

]]> By: maroonmifti http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles#comment-17949 maroonmifti Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:47:58 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=523#comment-17949 Let's get serious here. Where do you put the duplex drive for entering and leaving harbour? How do we transition this thing from water to earth dirt application or are we stuck with using air cushion vehicles? (from oz) Let’s get serious here. Where do you put the duplex drive for entering and leaving harbour?
How do we transition this thing from water to earth dirt application or are we stuck with using air cushion vehicles? (from oz)

]]> By: Alx_xlA http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles#comment-17458 Alx_xlA Sat, 29 Sep 2007 23:13:12 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=523#comment-17458 [quote]A say, no need S said: "eeewww,,,ussr russia plane is sooo ugly and low / no life,,, too much show off to america,,,america still beat ussr russia,,, america plane is the best plane in the world than ussr russia,,, ussr russia is always COPY STEAL COPY STEAL from america idea,,,"[/quote] Don't be a douche. Brought to you by the international society for not being a douche. As an aside, what about the Hughes H-4 Hercules (aka the Spruce Goose (even though it was made of birch, not spruce))? Many people claim it only flew as a result of ground effect. I did a science fair project on it. Got bored and didn't finish, though. [quote]A say, no need S said: “eeewww,,,ussr russia plane is sooo ugly and low / no life,,,

too much show off to america,,,america still beat ussr russia,,,
america plane is the best plane in the world than ussr russia,,,
ussr russia is always COPY STEAL COPY STEAL from america idea,,,”[/quote]

Don’t be a douche.

Brought to you by the international society for not being a douche.

As an aside, what about the Hughes H-4 Hercules (aka the Spruce Goose (even though it was made of birch, not spruce))? Many people claim it only flew as a result of ground effect. I did a science fair project on it. Got bored and didn’t finish, though.

]]> By: James http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles#comment-11231 James Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:39:00 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=523#comment-11231 <p><span class='quote'>misanthrope said: "Asking that units not be mixed is perfectly reasonable."</span></p><p> I did not say it wasn't. I objected to the Idea that metric is inherently better because it is easy it multiply ect with. I prefer the sizes in the U.S. customary units, they are more natural, relative to the human proportion and human understanding, there are actual reasons it can into being and is still used today other than tradition it really does have its advantages. So before people start forgoing sensible unit sizes for simple math and unit sizes that have little to do with human scale and everything to do with scientific measurements, think about what is really sensible for everyday use. I also objected to the arrogant tone of the comment. That was my point.</p> misanthrope said: “Asking that units not be mixed is perfectly reasonable.”

I did not say it wasn’t. I objected to the Idea that metric is inherently better because it is easy it multiply ect with. I prefer the sizes in the U.S. customary units, they are more natural, relative to the human proportion and human understanding, there are actual reasons it can into being and is still used today other than tradition it really does have its advantages. So before people start forgoing sensible unit sizes for simple math and unit sizes that have little to do with human scale and everything to do with scientific measurements, think about what is really sensible for everyday use. I also objected to the arrogant tone of the comment. That was my point.

]]> By: misanthrope http://www.damninteresting.com/ground-effect-vehicles#comment-11229 misanthrope Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:06:56 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=523#comment-11229 <p>Asking that units not be mixed is perfectly reasonable. </p> Asking that units not be mixed is perfectly reasonable.

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