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Originally Posted by Viturro
I don't agree... i mean, the fastest cars (salt lake turbine) and fast planes uses cone noses... why you say that is better like that?
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You've provided the context under which the cone would have the advantage.
At the trans-sonic and supersonic velocities of the LSR vehicles,the shockwaves generated on a 'bulbous' nose would block momentum interchange into the boundary layer,triggering separation right there,with no re-attachment.Which could be catastrophic.The 'ogival',or pointy nose is designed to squash the shockwaves,allowing clean flow to the rear,where fins can keep the CP behind the CG.
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For daily commuting though,as others have mentioned,the pilbug's nose is actually ideal.Koenig-Fachsenfeld has a photo of it in the Stuttgart wind tunnel and the smoke flow over it could not be improved upon.It does have a robust stagnation area but that's great for the cooling system and cabin ventilation.
With the Ludwig Prandtl' flow lines of discontinuity the streamline filaments are moving as if the nose projected to a point anyway.
It's 'weird' but it's the way of the world.
PS if you'll do a GOOGLE Image search with Windkanal,you'll eventually get to a color photo of the Schl'o'rwagen model under smoke and green light in the wind tunnel.It's pretty sweet!