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Originally Posted by dcb
...with the right engine combo, you should be able to cruise @ 90mpg at 103mph and 180mpg at 52mph?
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Well, except for the fact that IIRC the stall speed's about 65 mph :-)
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Would narrow wheels and direct drive, instead of wings and a propeller help or hurt mpg?
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Some of the mpg improvement probably comes from cruising at higher altitudes* - around 12,000 ft or up to 18,000 with oxygen - where the air is much thinner, so drag is less. I don't know how induced drag from lift would compare to tire drag, but the low frontal area is about the same as the VW 1L car.
* And that's boring. Flying's more fun when you come back with bits of sagebrush in the gear :-)