questions on multi-wing planforms

You might look up all the varieties of "Flying Fleas" and the Q-200 kits for
small, multiwing aircraft.
"pTooner" wrote in message
...
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

"Robert Little" wrote in message
...
You might look up all the varieties of "Flying Fleas" and the Q-200 kits
for small, multiwing aircraft.

I have done so, thanks.
Gerry
"pTooner" wrote in message
...
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

Even if everything works just the way you dream it will how will you
see where you're going?

"pTooner" wrote in message
.. .
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

"Drew Dalgleish" wrote in message
...
Even if everything works just the way you dream it will how will you
see where you're going?

You are assuming a far more complete design than actually exists, but I
don't see why that should be a problem.

Gerry

"pTooner" wrote in message
. ..
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

"pTooner" wrote in message
...

"Drew Dalgleish" wrote in message
...
Even if everything works just the way you dream it will how will you
see where you're going?

You are assuming a far more complete design than actually exists, but I
don't see why that should be a problem.

Gerry
I am fairly certain that tandem biplane designs existed in the early
days--in addition to the obvious case of the Wright Flyer.

However, I will second the suggestion to stay with one of the various
folding wing designs. Also, unless you are *very* masochistic, you probably
won't fly very ofter if you also have to tow the aircraft to and from the
airport, so the ability to be towed at highway speeds (or even street
speeds) may not be as usefull as the ease of folding and unfolding the
wings. I would suggest asking around your local airport(s) regarding the
storage cost for a folding wing aircraft--you may be able to share part of a
hangar or even get a reasonable deal from a maintenance facility if they
have permission to move the plane out of the way when they need the
workspace. Also, the way Tee-hangars are constructed at some airports,
there may be a half hangar on the end of each row--and a folding wing
airplane would only need about half of a half hangar!

BTW, depending on the size of the Tee hangars on the row, you might be able
to nose a VariEze or even a LongEze into a half hangar and still share the
back part of the hangar for storage or office space--depending on the rules
at your airport.

Also the Nesmith Cougar has a folding wing, and if you are of very small
stature there is the Stits Playmate.

I hope this helps
Peter

"pTooner" wrote in message
. ..
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

"Peter Dohm" wrote in message
. ..
"pTooner" wrote in message
...

"Drew Dalgleish" wrote in message
...
Even if everything works just the way you dream it will how will you
see where you're going?

You are assuming a far more complete design than actually exists, but I
don't see why that should be a problem.

Gerry
I am fairly certain that tandem biplane designs existed in the early
days--in addition to the obvious case of the Wright Flyer.

Well, I tend to think that it's only a tandem wing if both portions
contribute substantially to the list. I don't know of any of those,
although I'd like to find them for informational purposes.


However, I will second the suggestion to stay with one of the various
folding wing designs. Also, unless you are *very* masochistic, you
probably
won't fly very ofter if you also have to tow the aircraft to and from the
airport, so the ability to be towed at highway speeds (or even street
speeds) may not be as usefull as the ease of folding and unfolding the
wings. I would suggest asking around your local airport(s) regarding the
storage cost for a folding wing aircraft--you may be able to share part of
a
hangar or even get a reasonable deal from a maintenance facility if they
have permission to move the plane out of the way when they need the
workspace. Also, the way Tee-hangars are constructed at some airports,
there may be a half hangar on the end of each row--and a folding wing
airplane would only need about half of a half hangar!

Those are good ideas, but I never consider towing. Picture instead, someone
who happened to own a few acres on the dead end of a very rural florida road
that is straight as an arrow. ;-)

Gerry