Quote:
Originally Posted by kach22i
Thanks for posting the Cd, did you reference a source or just go off memory?
|
There's sources quoting "<.30". But as I recall, Bill Collins did extensive testing in a wind tunnel (U of M in Ann Arbor?) and later sent a full size vehicle for testing (at the Bendix Proving Grounds) which came in a bit higher than the model (as happens). Somewhere online is a complete history written by Bob, which he presented at an owners convention or something like that. I'll google that a bit more...
Also recall that the Vixen had a pop up roof, later replaced with a fixed, higher, roof, but that version wasn't aero tested.
So long as the front contours result in laminar flow along the top and sides, the length isn't as important. I bet a Vixen could be shortened quite a bit before the aero got worse. I think long bodies benefit from the air getting reattached along the length of the body. If it never detaches, it could be shorter.