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Old 10-07-2010, 07:01 PM   #53 (permalink)
cfg83
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1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon
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Frank -

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee View Post
I suspect it wouldn't spin as nicely on the front of a car as it does on airplanes. Plus, airplanes don't have (much for) x-winds in flight.
Yeah, I was waiting for someone to say that. If you stick it out the side of the car the air flows through it, and you also get that big chunk of drag. If you put it up front it so that it doesn't increase frontal area, it cause less drag. But it won't spin as well, so less juice for the electrical system.

Also, I would think that just the act of spinning would increase the air turbulence as it flows around the front of your car, so there could still be a net drag effect that offsets any gain in juice supplementing the electrical system.

Rats. I really wanted an excuse to put a propeller on my car.

CarloSW2
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