AirFlow Truck Company StarShip Aero

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by myself

...maybe I'll call the phone number he offered.

I did that. Nickgri backed away because he's got a lot on his plate. The reason he posted was that the samples dejaa showed had someone else's name on the label and he didn't want to get lost in the shuffle. I think that's understandable.

The metaphor I used with him was a mountaineering tent—fiberglass rods in tension and a Dacron skin ...only in basalt. He seemed enthusiastic. Apparently with an appropriate sizing, fabrics can be used for tent skins; or upholstery? Other sizings promote adhesion of resins or make it hydrophobic.

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Did a decimal point slip?
Awesome rig!Glad to know your still out there rockin' it.

Hey Phil -

Nice to hear from you!

No, I don't think I slipped a decimal point. The average Class 8 truck is 0.65 Cd. Unless I'm missing something here.

I had to redact some proprietary info in this image below, but you can see the Cd of the new truck is currently 0.25

Baseline was 0.28, which means we had designed an excellent aerodynamic envelope from the beginning. We are currently doing simulations to get it even lower. In the teens, is my dream Cd. But you can also see that we are already in the teens, except for the last meter and a half of the vehicle.

[BamZipPow]

Items I have some questions about...

When you have to use chains
Lift access points fer tire replacement
Ease of belly pan section removal in the event of collisions/impacts

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Items I have some questions about...

When you have to use chains
Lift access points for tire replacement
Ease of belly pan section removal in the event of collisions/impacts

Hey BZP -

This is a concept vehicle. As you know, concept vehicles are not the same as production vehicles. They have some limitations. Many concept vehicles are "trailer queens" where they travel to and from shows inside van trailers or on top of flatbed or lowboy trailers. The Walmart Peterbilt Class 8 concept truck from a couple of years ago comes to mind as a prime example of a trailer queen. This Walmart Peterbilt truck never has been, and never will be, roadworthy. And they spent a ship-load of money building it.



I will drive this new truck throughout the U.S. next year. So it's not a trailer queen.

Chains will never work on this new truck. That being said, I drove my own truck as an owner operator based in Denver for years and years, and never once chained-up. I can't recall missing any pick-ups or deliveries for lack of chains. And although we will ballast the trailer to have a normal GVW, I will have the luxury of waiting out storms, with planning, to make sure that no venues are missed. We won't be delivering freight.

With our 4 axle Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) anything short of running over an IED would not be cause for a tire replacement. ATIS is not a run-flat system. But it is a run-to-the-truck-stop-to-get-the-tire-repaired-while-it's-leaking system. Changing tires will not be a problem as there are small cutouts in the bellypan for the spring perch U-bolts.

The bellypan bolts on custom hangers that we built. So after removing a few of those fasteners, it can be removed. That being said, bellypans are not really practical for non-concept Class 8 trucks. But a bellypan on the tractor only was extremely helpful in lowering Cd during our CFD simulations. And the goal of the new truck is to become the ultimate Ecomodder vehicle.

[freebeard]

Many concept vehicles are "trailer queens"...

Any idea how many road miles Luigi Colani's trucks covered?

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Any idea how many road miles Luigi Colani's trucks covered?

My guess would be zero.

[user removed]

This thread is one of the most significant, along with previous threads, of anything I have read on this forum in the last 6 years.

It re-inspires me to continue with my own innovation.

regards
mech

[freebeard]

I checked, the Colani motorhome is a one-off located in Dubai; so it's probably 0-miles too. Still, I like the windshield wipers. Always working.


https://www.google.com/search?q=colani+motorhome

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

This thread is one of the most significant, along with previous threads, of anything I have read on this forum in the last 6 years.

It re-inspires me to continue with my own innovation.

regards
mech

From one old mechanic to another, thanks for the kind words.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Shepherd777

And the goal of the new truck is to become the ultimate Ecomodder vehicle.

Now I'm curious about your big picture goal: To show how you can further refine an off-the-shelf vehicle to reduce your own running costs? To develop a new vehicle for sale/licence? To market add-ons/kits to other owners?