[TowerTalk] Model-Reality disagreement; Examine, fix the model

[Bill Coleman]

On Mar 17, 2005, at 11:44 AM, Pat Barthelow wrote:

> The aerodynamic equations that explain airplane flight are based on
> steady-wing & not mobile-wing function. That a steady-wing airplane 
> the size
> & shape of a bee will not fly has no bearing whatsoever or the vastly 
> more
> complicated mobile-wing functions of insects.

Frankly, I thought it had to do with vastly differing Reynold's 
numbers. Your typical airliner flies with Reynold's numbers in the 
millions. A light aircraft, maybe 100,000. Something like a bee is down 
near 1, if not a fraction.

At low Reynold's numbers, the viscosity of the air starts to dominate. 
Insects more paddle through syrupy air than "fly".


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901