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Suggestion: wind energy will make gliders cheaper
Sailplane designers,
Modern wind turbine blades are strikingly similar to glider wings. They are now now coming out in sizes approaching 50 meters. The market expansion for wind energy is expected to grow rapidly. The ensuing economies of scale from mass produced wind turbine blades just might offer significant cost advantages to glider manufactures. I realize the "flight" regime of a glider wing and turbine blade are not exactly the same but the cost advantage could be so significant that the compromise is acceptable; you decide. Also many requirements ARE the same: lightweight, long, strong, and low maintenance. Back to cost reduction, economies of scale can reduce manufacturing costs for things like CRTs factors of 1,000th to 100,000. Imagine a glider market with wings costing 100th of what they cost now (would we throw away wings like razor blades when they start crazing - crazy?). Used as wing turbine blades would require regulatory approval (or do they if used on an ultralight?). That could kill the idea right there. In fact this idea is just CRAZY so don't bother telling me its crazy and why it can't work. There are dozens of reasons not to consider this. Nonetheless, I'm tossing this out so that some glider designer might have in the back of his/her mind and some day pursue it in case there is one way it might work. Here is a list of the current wind turbine manufacturers in order of 2005 market sha 1. Vestas Wind Systems (Denmark) http://www.vestas.com/uk/Home/index.asp 2. Gamesa Corporation Tecnologica (Spain) http://www.gamesa.es/gamesa/index.html 3. LM Glasfiber (Denmark) http://www.lmglasfiber.com/DK/home/default.htm Largest US manufacturer: GE Energy - wind arm (USA) http://www.gepower.com/about/info/en/windmill.htm Have fun, Richard |
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