Bugatti: Aero Beauty and Innovation

[orange4boy]

Blah blah blah...



http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2...Cabriolet.html

The most striking feature of the German design is the 'waterfall' style grille, which was the result of wind tunnel testing and was supposed to improve the car's aerodynamics.

[orange4boy]

I proclaim, Hazzah!!!



http://www.bugattiaircraft.com/plane.htm

Tragically the Bugatti 100P airplane never flew, the Germans invaded Paris before it was 100% ready. The airplane surprisingly survived the war, and still exists. The airplane is now in the EAA museum in Oshkosh, USA. Both engines exist, and were built into Bugatti race-cars.

Some of the airplane´s characteristics:

Extremely streamlined design, made possible by placing the two engines behind the cockpit.
Forward swept wings
A sandwich-construction in wood, where balsa wood between two layers of hard wood makes a very light, very strong ans stiff construction.
Propulsion by two counter-rotating propellers, driven from the two engines by axles under the pilot´s elbow.
The airplane was equipped with ground adjustable propellers. Propellers with in-flight adjustable pitch were being developed
The engines were special developments of racecar engines, 8 cylinder 4.9 litre with compressor and many magnesium parts, approx. 450hp.
Automatic wing-flaps, that changed the wingprofile for extra lift or less drag. Adjustment automatic according to airspeed, throttle etc.
This system was also capable of acting as an airbrake, or be used during dives. The same system also automatically lowered and raised the retractable landing gear.
Special cooling system with radiators in the fuselage, air entering at the leading edge of the stabilisers. The air flowed through the fuselage to the front, exiting at the trailing edge of the wing.
"Y" tail.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

Blah blah blah...

Beautiful- no doubt!

Aerodynamic? You have brought exactly 0 to the table on that.

[orange4boy]

Thanks for keeping score!

Critical, no doubt.

Constructive? You have brought exactly 0 to the table on that.

[thatguitarguy]

Is this off-roading Bugatti style?

[gone-ot]

...mid-engined aircraft = a French-version of the Bell P-39 Airacobra?

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

Thanks for keeping score!

Critical, no doubt.

Constructive? You have brought exactly 0 to the table on that.

Really? I ran several sims on the aero calculator, after googling for what specs I could find.

If there's anything better out there, bring it!

I have bee looking at 20's and 30's Bugatti cars recently and realizing how aerodynamic they were.

Can you shed some light on how you realized they were aerodynamic?

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

...Constructive? You have brought exactly 0 to the table on that....

I agree.

[Frank Lee]

Waiting for something more constructive to come along...

[orange4boy]

...mid-engined aircraft = a French-version of the Bell P-39 Airacobra?

Looks like it. Interesting to note the wing positions which would have been due to different C of G/C of P.

It looks like the tail on the Bugatti would be a bit short and low on surface area to be as maneuverable as the spitfire. Just an eyeball judgement though. Too bad it never flew.

Also interesting is the low rudder. Would have to have pretty high gear not to scrape that on flare out.

The counter rotating props would have made take off less hazardous and easier on your right foot. The Spitfire tended to hasten an immediate exit stage left without full right rudder on take off.

The visibility would have been fantastic!

Here's the Spit fire:



And the Aerocobra:



And the 100P. Mr. Bugatti liked to be different: