pTooner wrote:
"ELIPPSE" wrote in message
oups.com...

pTooner wrote:
Firstly, I am new here although I've been reading for a few days. For
anyone with more knowledge than I, I keep considering building a small 4
wing aircraft. Not stacked, but two up front and two in the rear. I
have
read frequently of problems supposedly resulting from interference of the
airflow between wings, but I can't seem to find anything very specific.
I'm
fairly confident that interference between the front wings (or rear) can
be
minimized by reasonable spacing and differing dihedral. I'm not sure
what
the effect of the airflow coming off the front wings will have on the
rear
set. I don't know whether I could remove most of the problem by having
one
set considerably higher (how much?) than the other set or if it is
reasonable to have them on more or less the same height. The reason for
the concept is trying to get a wingspan small enough to fit into a normal
garage and conceivably take off and land from streets and highways. I
visualise something in a two place plane that would fall into something
of
the appeal category of a motorcycle or small sports car. Any thoughts
would
be appreciated.

Gerry
Look up "Monk Factor"!

In quotes that term doesn't bring any reponse in google. Without quotes it
brings an unmanageable amount but doesn't appear to have anything to do with
aerodynamics. Can you elaborate a bit?
Gerry
Hi, Gerry! Munk factor has to do with the effect multiple wing
placement has on the induced drag of tandem wings and biplane wings.
Darrol Stinton in his book "The Design Of The Aeroplane" has an
excellent, easy to understand section on it, with lots of graphs!