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Old 12-24-2011, 03:30 PM   #47 (permalink)
Ken Fry
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drmiller100 View Post
wheel base ends up pretty long unless you do what I'm doing.
The MonoTracer is 12 feet long and its wheelbase is about 10 feet. Of course, handling changes with a passenger on board. The overlap is pretty slight. Another 6 inches in wheel base would eliminate it for most passengers.

The Piper Cub had tandem seating with only the feet and lower calves of the rear person overlapping the front person.

I think overlapping according to your plan it is a good idea for keeping the wheelbase short. Loads of concept cars support your approach.

The side-to-side change of CG that comes with your arrangement can more easily handled than in something like the Aptera, because you are not offsetting the people so far. They had a much wider track than you are planning and still seemed to have handling problems in the last version. They temporarily fixed that at the X Prize, by stiffening the suspension substantially, if I recall. You will probably have the advantage of lower CG.
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