Random Aerodynamic Oddity of the Day Thread

[kach22i]

The more things change: Stupid 1970s and 1980s muscle car mods - Page 3 - Pelican Parts Forums

[kach22i]

What I find odd about this design, is that with a few changes giving up down-force perhaps something slippery could be made of it.

KTM's X-bow GT4 supercar is a stealthy racer built for track days
https://www.designboom.com/technolog...ar-17-29-2017/



https://www.pinterest.com/pin/194147433916704928/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtcLZI7kYG0

I'm pretty sure without that giant wickerbill tail it would slide though the air better, be it dicier to drive without the down-force.

[freebeard]

Edna Mode: "No capes!"

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I like that fighter jet-type canopy, even though it's far from being practical.

[kach22i]

An electric hovercraft, 1960???????????

George Barris
"X.P.A.C. 400 AIR CAR"
XPAC 400 - Novelty and Product Cars Gallery | Barris Kustom Industries

This car is a ground effects machine and rides on a five inch cushion of air and can run on land or water, has no wheels, transmission or rear end. Plus, no frictional moving parts................

Four inch polyethylene circular skirt is installed on the lower portion of the body........

All panels are hand formed from 040 half hard aluminum, by Jack Sutton..........

Power is two jet aircraft starter motors 24 volt D.C...............

All electronics are on circuit breakers, racheted relays and solanoids engineered by Earl Wilson................

This car was designed and built to be demonstrated for the public showing how an air operates and is mounted on a guide rail for safety.

EDIT: 1959

More information and photos here:
https://kustomrama.com/wiki/XPAK_400


Since there is no mention of "batteries" and since it was on a rail indoors, I'm going to assume it was plugged in a 24 volt convertor which was plugged into a wall outlet. I see no extension cord, just being pessimistic.

The section including radar and sound-waves I must consider colorful hyperbole for the show.

[freebeard]

Colorful hyperbole was George Colorful_hyperbole Barris' middle name. Sam Barris was the one with good taste.

I remember it from the little magazines in 1959. Never saw any indications of a guide rail, but it had restraining cables at the floor to keep it from wandering around when it was on.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Colorful hyperbole was George Colorful_hyperbole Barris' middle name. Sam Barris was the one with good taste.

I remember it from the little magazines in 1959. Never saw any indications of a guide rail, but it had restraining cables at the floor to keep it from wandering around when it was on.

It would have been dangerous to be around, just look at the size of the crippling shin lances coming out the front. Worse than a scorching hot megaphone trumpet exhaust coming out a 911"s tail out at the track.

Keep that puppy on a chain indeed.

http://betterpicf.pw/Grundig-gdm-111...designs-t.html


I bet that design above really sucks some air up.

[freebeard]

They might be a problem if it could move. All it could do (so far as I know) was hover.

Don't you do hovercraft? What do you think of the size of those fan intakes?

How about the overall lifting body shape?

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by freebeard

They might be a problem if it could move. All it could do (so far as I know) was hover.

Don't you do hovercraft? What do you think of the size of those fan intakes?

How about the overall lifting body shape?

It would move readily, if not quickly, with weight shifting. The model could just tilt her head to make it respond.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by freebeard

They might be a problem if it could move. All it could do (so far as I know) was hover.

Don't you do hovercraft? What do you think of the size of those fan intakes?

How about the overall lifting body shape?

Yea I own a small hovercraft and have been nuts about them since 1966 when I was six years old.

Contrary to the one report calling it circular it looks elliptical to me.

The layout of one fan in front, another behind was successful on many annular jet skitless hovercraft of the day (ie Curtis Wright Aircar). They bled lift air though vanes to go forward and stop or turn.

Such vanes or puff-ports on smaller craft were not needed as all the operator has to do is lean a little to far in any direction, and that's the way it slides.