Think Flight: Using Simple Aerodynamics to Beat High Gas Prices
 

Published Aug 31st. Delete if a repost.

35.64mpg to 40.52mpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-FY...el=ThinkFlight

I put it in "Interesting Aeordynamic..." but don't delete. It's just lost there.

What can one see from the thumbnail, that he took tuft testing to find out?

what see
 

The preliminary conclusion from the tuft study infers that both the plan-taper and diffuser angle are too extreme to protect the boundary layer from premature separation, counter-flow, eddies, and turbulence.
Also, from other reportings, the addition of rear wheel skirts and a full belly pan with diffuser would have amplified the 13.7% mpg result.
So, anyone wishing to improve on the tail would select smaller angles on the sides and bottom, for the 'second-approximation' design.
When the tufts behave as up top, you're essentially 'there.'
Additionally, if the coefficient of pressure profile were to be determined, this would be 'what you're looking for', by default.

Admitedly the plan taper doesn't show in the thumbnail.

Compare the Breer high-tailed stinger vs Harry Westergard's taildraggers.

Westergard
 

They all look too aggressive to me. Pseudo-Jaray 'fastback'. I'd bet a cup a Joe and a sugar-dum-dum that they'd suffer premature separation.
'Like the look though.:)

I didn't watch, but I don't think aviation is a simpler frame for aerodynamics. The entire subject is extremely complex, perhaps with a few easy to remember "rules of thumb".

As with any subject, the basics are low hanging fruit, with mastery involving lifetime dedication and proclivity.

Same four forces, same Reynolds numbers; what better 'frame'?

He's a pilot, it's a build story with tuft testing.

Meh. Laminar flow better than turbulent? Is that what thinking about flight is supposed to reveal? I still refuse to watch based on the dumb title.

Perhaps we should use simple golf ball dimples to beat high gas prices?

The aerodynamicist's tool?

https://www.matcotools.com/productas...yImage_400.jpg
https://www.matcotools.com/productas...yImage_400.jpg

Close but not quite. That would be for peening the edges of metal shafts to retain them.

You need a pick hammer to make proper dimples.