Coax Wind Resistance Grease

[k4sb@avana.net]

Frankly, I think this thread is getting a little thin, but did want to make one comment.

The most expense in operating an airliner is fuel. My company also figured out if you didn't
paint the thing, ( I think they used a 727 for this ), you saved 460 pounds of weight, and
God only knows how much money for the paint. ( I seem to remember it was about $45 a gallon )
don't much remember the end except they now could translate the fuel savings from not having
the weight of the paint. And it was considerable....

And as to anyone who thinks the surface of an aerodynamic shape doesn't matter, you should
have seen original test flights of the F-104 ( which was an AF plane, but conducted at
Navy Oceana. That beast had specially fitted covers to protect the front surface of the wing.
One of the tests they did was to put a grease mark on the front of the wing....The thing
was absolutely unable to get airborne on a 15000' runway. 

Now coax is round and smooth. ( at least all I've ever seen. The ONLY way you could reduce
the drag would be to employ the Magnus principle. The is the principle that caused all those
little dents to be placed on golf balls, and why commercial airlines have exposed rivet heads 
on the wing and body.

73,

Ed
-------------------------------------
Name: Ed Sleight
E-mail: k4sb@avana.net
Date: 2/17/97
Time: 11:09:48 PM
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