Backwash Causes Lift?

Le Chaud Lapin wrote in
oups.com:

On Oct 6, 8:53 am, Tina wrote:
The hand waving about lift is equally funny: people are attaching
names to various theories, but the reality is the physics used in the
analysis of lift work well enough to predict performance. The 'wise
fools' will wave their hands and argue, those knowing what they are
doing will design airplanes.

This I definitely agree with. Even if aerodynamicists (is that even a
word) were so inept at physics that could not even calculate F=ma,
after so many iterations, they would still be able to make highly
refined airfoils simply because nature provides feedback to help one
distinguish between good designs and bad designs.

However, I must point out something I noted yesterday, that if you
have theory as well as the practice, the correct theory, there might
be opportunity to experience and entiely new realm of order and
efficiency.

I re-read the chapter on fluid mechanics in my physics book last night
and it says exactly what that NASA article refutes. Naturally, I was
bit perturbed - this physics book is same one used by some very good
universities. It also read in it a near verbatim explanation of
downwash as an example of Newton's law at work, that I found in the
Jeppesen book, the same explanation with is rigorously refuted by
NASA. I remember reading this chapter over and over a long time ago,
and "not getting it", and now I realize that it's because it is most
likely wrong.

In any case, there is something to be said for re-examining the
theory. There might be a bit of opportunity here.

I *think* I understand the physics behind reduced pressure above a
moving, appropriately shaped airfoil. *If* my suspicions are correct,
then it should be possible to make an entirely new type of aircraft,
where the mechanims to keep the aircraft flying are entirely different
from what they are today. I won't say too much now. I know no one
will consider it anyway. I'll just start fiddling, albeit slowly,
with my copy of SolidWorks that is coming in the mail soon.

I plan eventually to make a small-scale model. Hopefully, someday, I
might find someone involved in aerodynamics/flight to help make a
prototype.

-Le Chaud Lapin-



You're an idiot


Bertie