Interesting Aerodynamic Cars (Mike Vetter's ETV, also Avion)

[NeilBlanchard]

Lots of Aptera images and videos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24602659@N04/

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

The Tatras were responsible for the demise of several top Nazis, due to less severe high-speed instability. These incidents, and the general tail-happiness of rear engine designs, plus the newer blowover accidents have convinced me that a streamlined car should be designed to be stable in a glide. If it is driving in a strong crosswind, and hits a patch of wet ice, it should move over, but not yaw.

Yes and no. Slow air-cooled VWs especially vans are aero unstable but not unmanageable because... slow. Corvair much faster stock yet still OK- must be more aero stable than the VWs. I love the traction, braking, and light steering of these old rear engine RWDs. I don't love the inability to load oversize stuff in the trunk with the lid not latched.

[Bicycle Bob]

I knew a young engineer at IBM who severely revised his budget to replace his VW bug with a Volvo after one excursion to the ditch with his bride.

[freebeard]

Yes and no. Slow air-cooled VWs especially vans are aero unstable but not unmanageable because... slow.

That's why you drop the nose. They tend to lift at the high end otherwise.

I love the traction, braking, and light steering of these old rear engine RWDs. I don't love the inability to load oversize stuff in the trunk with the lid not latched.

For me it's the swapping ends on black ice.

[Frank Lee]

No, that's the FUN part!

[freebeard]

How do you make a fan car road legal? Multi-tasking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-cO_2BkAag

[MeteorGray]

QUOTE: "...With its low drag, the Schlörwagen reacted very heavy to side winds. This made it difficult or even dangerous to control the vehicle...."

I found this quote interesting. It implies a car having "low drag" will have a bad reaction to heavy side winds, and makes it "difficult or even dangerous to control the vehicle."

Why would "low drag" characteristics bring such difficulties in side winds?

The implication seems to be that a non-aerodynamic high drag shape handles side winds better than an aerodynamic low drag shape.

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by MeteorGray

QUOTE: "...With its low drag, the Schlörwagen reacted very heavy to side winds. This made it difficult or even dangerous to control the vehicle...."

I found this quote interesting. It implies a car having "low drag" will have a bad reaction to heavy side winds, and makes it "difficult or even dangerous to control the vehicle."

Why would "low drag" characteristics bring such difficulties in side winds?

The implication seems to be that a non-aerodynamic high drag shape handles side winds better than an aerodynamic low drag shape.

An unstreamlined shape creates a lot of turbulence, so as a wing, it is "stalled" and unable to lift properly. With smooth flow all around, you can get a high pressure differential. One solution is to make the front corners rather abrupt, so that the flow can only stay attached in moderate side winds.

[freebeard]

The three-wheel Dymaxion yawed into a sidewind, rather than drifting downwind. I think, due to the massive front overhang.

[freebeard]

Me like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssKZfz_GVGA

Even the drone headlight, except for the smart phone part.