On Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:40:21 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:


"Stealth Pilot" wrote

Why is the Wittman W8 tailwind still a standout in the efficiency
figures?

Seems to me that it has a few things that keep it on top.

See if you think I am on the right track.

The shapes used in the fuselage and anything that is sticking out in the wind
are all good aerodynamic tradeoffs of slippery and light.

The basic shape of the fuselage is good for contributing to the lift of the
aircraft, more than most other designs. Probably the most important feature of
the design, in my eyes.

Attention is always on making structures easy to build light and no extra weight
is there that does not contribute to lightness.

The airfoil and fuselage are light enough and slippery enough to be powered by a
small engine, so extra engine weight and fuel weight does not have to be carried
around, which allows the structures to be built more lightly. It is sort of a
good circle that keeps weight down, versus the other circle that keeps growing
the weight of the aircraft.

How did I do? g

pretty damn good.