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Old 03-21-2018, 10:14 AM   #17 (permalink)
Bicycle Bob
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Aha! You are already having crashes from getting out of shape. Try to understand that you are basically "in flight" at speed, but trying to stay on the runway. Aero stability comes first. That does not come from length, but from balance. Nor does length aid "flowing," past a certain point. The Railton is the only famous Bonneville car that does not waste surface area. Air is sticky as well as pushy.

With no rules, purity is up to you. A rocket sled would make it very easy. You could add fans for downforce, push, or both. You could use a catapult for acceleration and a catch-net at the end. Or, you could do it the hard way and use the suspension to adjust wings for sufficient traction with minimum drag. You probably want a big wing, to become effective early on when there's gobs of power for acceleration and little drag.

You are very lucky with regard to the potential for laminar flow, which can radically reduce drag. If you produce a suitable shape accurately, turbulent flow will only begin at the wheel openings, and spread at 15 deg along the streamlines.

Last edited by Bicycle Bob; 03-21-2018 at 10:32 AM.. Reason: 3rd pp
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