[TowerTalk] wind load vs Rohn specs

[Pete Smith]

At 01:05 PM 9/12/00 -0700, Ken wrote:
>Hi Pete - Yes,  drag is proportional to V squared, and pressure drag is a
>big piece of overall, but look at a Piper Cub, which cruises at about 65
>MPH, and the noticeably fatter Aeronca Champ that cruises faster with the
>same power. Definitely more to the story than area!
>Think about putting a 2" high piece of plywood, face to the wind, out the
>car window. Now, think about  doing the same thing with a piece of  2"
>diameter tubing of the same length, and, finally, with a 2" thick piece of
>aircraft strut, chord into the wind.

I'm with you -- my last experience as a private pilot involved breaking an
Aeronca Champ, but let's not go there.  But my gut tells me that any
aerodynamic improvements applied to antenna booms or elements are apt not
to have enough payoff to be worth the effort and expense.  The simple act
of reducing the diameter of elements, a la Force 12, probably would be far
more beneficial, as would be appropriate design attention to wind balance.



73, Pete Smith N4ZR

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