"Scott Ferrin" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 6 Dec 2003 11:23:25 -0000, "Richard Brooks"
wrote:



Which brings up something I've always wondered. Why doesn't the
compressor and turbines of a jet engine have that effect but on a much
larger scale? I imagine the gyroscopic effects of the rotor in an
F110 on an F-16 would be nothing to sneeze at.


For one thing the modern aircraft have a greater ratio of mass
of aircfraft as a whole to the engine. The PW-200 series
engine weighs in at around 3400lb or rather less that 10%
of the F-16's all up weight and only a fraction of that is rotating.

In contrast the engine of a Sopwith Camel weighed around
300 lbs and was ALL rotating when the aircraft all up weight
was less than 1000lbs.

Then again the control authority of modern aorcraft is higher
and the fly by wire control system can compensate for
gyroscopic forces rather better than a human being.

Keith