Bomb hits tailplane on release

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 17:27:32 +0100, Robert Briggs
wrote:

Ed Rasimus wrote:

Higher speeds mean the store can generate lift (just like any curved
surface.)

IIRC, "curved" is unnecessary here. After all, they do say that, given
enough thrust, a brick will fly, do they not?

Actually, no. Lift is balanced by weight, while thrust opposes drag.
The brick (AKA F-4) would not really "fly", but simply be propelled in
the desired direction. It is the tendency for airflow to accelerate
over a curved surface creating a low pressure area that causes "lift".
The dropped store had better be curved if you want to get lift, since
it isn't supplied with thrust.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8