Quote:
Originally Posted by Piotrsko
Not to disagree, but most everything in front of the props should be pretty much laminar unless it is a huge profile change.
I can see some turbulence at intersections and with the tip setup from vortice flow, and I wonder about the drive units operating in disturbed air but that will just reduce available thrust and not decrease drag.
I defer to your knowledge base as mine is mostly deduced from my aviation failures.
|
A "puller" prop gives you more efficient propeller operation due to it grabbing nice clean air. A "pusher" prop gives you lower propeller efficiency due to the relatively "dirty" air flow.
The airflow will be laminar for the most part, but when the air rejoins after going around the wing it isn't perfect.
A benefits of clean airflow around the fuselage on a "pusher" is more beneficial than the clean air being grabbed by a "puller". The downside is that, even when fly by wire, the control systems are more complex, as well as the balance being more difficult to fine tune.