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Old 03-10-2010, 01:27 AM   #14 (permalink)
Frank Lee
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If it's properly boattailed, the side area doesn't necessarily increase. Depends on speed vs windspeed and angle, but plan for the most common condition in your area.

Here's how I visualize it (with sort of off-the-cuff numbers): Look at the vehicle from the front, offset at, oh, 10 degrees. That is what the x-wind sees (pic 1):







Looks like proper tapering in plan view added exactly ZERO to yawed "frontal" area and thus shouldn't adversely effect stability.

Perhaps this is 5 degrees yaw?



Perhaps this is why outside mirrors don't hurt drag much in the real world? (not adding much "frontal area" at all)
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Last edited by Frank Lee; 03-10-2010 at 06:11 PM..
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