questions on multi-wing planforms

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:
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



Go from 4 to 1.
The Dyke Delta JD-2 will fold up to fit in a one car garage. And it is
designed to be towed behind a car on it's own wheels; though, some have
had issues with getting trailer tags to do it legally.

--
This is by far the hardest lesson about freedom. It goes against
instinct, and morality, to just sit back and watch people make
mistakes. We want to help them, which means control them and their
decisions, but in doing so we actually hurt them (and ourselves)."

"Ernest Christley" wrote in message
...
pTooner wrote:
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

Go from 4 to 1.
The Dyke Delta JD-2 will fold up to fit in a one car garage. And it is
designed to be towed behind a car on it's own wheels; though, some have
had issues with getting trailer tags to do it legally.

I'm familiar with the plane, and it is reputed to be very difficult and
lengthy to build.

Gerry

"pTooner" wrote in message
.. .

"Ernest Christley" wrote in message
...

snip


I'm familiar with the plane, and it is reputed to be very difficult and
lengthy to build.

Gerry

Not compared to designing, building, and testing a unique design with an odd
planform...

KB

"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
news

"pTooner" wrote in message
.. .

"Ernest Christley" wrote in message
...

snip


I'm familiar with the plane, and it is reputed to be very difficult and
lengthy to build.

Gerry

Not compared to designing, building, and testing a unique design with an
odd planform...

KB

Welllll, I guess I can't argue with that. G
Gerry

Build models of your ideas. Try them as free flight first. you may even
be able to do some customizing in the more advanced RC flight sim
programs.
If you can get the small models to fly build them bigger. get up to
about half scale.
if that works then build a full sizer.

pTooner wrote:
"Ernest Christley" wrote in message
...

pTooner wrote:

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

Go from 4 to 1.
The Dyke Delta JD-2 will fold up to fit in a one car garage. And it is
designed to be towed behind a car on it's own wheels; though, some have
had issues with getting trailer tags to do it legally.


I'm familiar with the plane, and it is reputed to be very difficult and
lengthy to build.

Gerry



Aren't they all? 4 years and running here. Almost ready to close up
the skins.

--
This is by far the hardest lesson about freedom. It goes against
instinct, and morality, to just sit back and watch people make
mistakes. We want to help them, which means control them and their
decisions, but in doing so we actually hurt them (and ourselves)."

I'm familiar with the plane, and it is reputed to be very difficult and
lengthy to build.

Gerry



Aren't they all? 4 years and running here. Almost ready to close up the
skins.

--

I'd love to see one of these puppies in progress. You wouldn't happen to be
near Florida would you?

Gerry
This is by far the hardest lesson about freedom. It goes against
instinct, and morality, to just sit back and watch people make
mistakes. We want to help them, which means control them and their
decisions, but in doing so we actually hurt them (and ourselves)."

pTooner wrote:
I'm familiar with the plane, and it is reputed to be very difficult and
lengthy to build.

Gerry



Aren't they all? 4 years and running here. Almost ready to close up the
skins.

--


I'd love to see one of these puppies in progress. You wouldn't happen to be
near Florida would you?


Dave Williams down in Key Largo may not have his rebuild buttoned up
yet. The yahoo group links to a Frapper map that will show you where
several are being built.


--
This is by far the hardest lesson about freedom. It goes against
instinct, and morality, to just sit back and watch people make
mistakes. We want to help them, which means control them and their
decisions, but in doing so we actually hurt them (and ourselves)."

pTooner wrote:
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
Look up "Monk Factor"!