banana439monkey wrote:
TKb0iZ wrote:
(#4)
banana439monkey wrote:
TKb0iZ wrote:
(#2)
I have at least one aviation question:
What is the optimal wing design for a spacecraft that can transition between atmospheric and orbital flight?
i didn't think that was aviation ngl

Banana
You know what, you're right. Here's a better question that is remotely related to the topic:
What is the purpose of the small triangular vanes (winglets) on the wingtips of some aircraft?
it seems that they exist to reduce aerodynamic drag which is kinda interesting since the landing gear of a plane increases the drag, but i could well be wrong
then again i guess the pilots of pinnacle 3701 could've been aided by this maybe? then again, they were being pushed to the back of the drag curve due to vertical speed trying to maintain the altitude but the stick pusher trying to decrease the angle of attack against the wing (in order to get it out of an aerodynamic stall)

Banana

Yes, the landing gear causes a lot of drag, mostly during takeoff and landing. However, the winglets by design minimize the drag generated by the wingtips' spiraling air currents known as wingtip vortices. This is distinct from the parasitic drag created by the landing gear. Induced drag is a fundamental aerodynamic effect that occurs due to the generation of lift. Winglets help mitigate this by managing the wingtip vortices. Parasitic drag from the landing gear is more straightforward - the physical protrusions create additional drag. That's why the landing gear is retracted during cruising to minimize drag.

Regarding the Pinnacle 3701 incident, the pilots faced difficulties in keeping the plane at the desired altitude and preventing an aerodynamic stall. The stick pusher aimed to reduce the angle of attack. Winglets may not have been effective in this instance because the focus was on managing the plane's energy and preventing a loss of lift caused by aerodynamic stall. The pilots were likely operating at the back of the drag curve, where small changes in angle of attack can have dramatic effects on lift and drag.

I did my research. (don't remember the source but do remember the details)