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Old 09-30-2015, 12:29 AM   #12 (permalink)
freebeard
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Quote:
Try bending a U-beam
That's essentially what this design is, with added aerodynamic covers.

Bottom would merely be an aerodynamic cover.
A U-channel fails by flexure of the free edges. A truss would help. In this case the inverted U-shaped fuselage might be engineered to take tension cables. With an inflated mattress in compression to inhibit flutter.

Are the containers secured by their top or bottom corners?

Quote:
It's mentioned in the patent
Oh sure, make me read the patent.

Edit: We basically cross-posted. If the containers are locked into a rigid array, that I can see.

The 40x144ft 'tarp', not so much. Maybe an inflated skin that is sucked against the bottoms of the containers?

Does FedEx have runways that will accommodate these?

Last edited by freebeard; 09-30-2015 at 01:01 AM..
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