Posted on 07/23/2007 10:29:25 AM PDT by taildragger
Bttt
Nawww...GlobalFlyer went around the world non-stop - on a single turbo-fan jet engine!
The biggest risk for a jet (any jet) is FOD (Foreign Object Damage), birds, runway debris, etc. But that's pretty rare.
I'm personally more adverse to the 'V'-tail configuration. Beechcraft V-tailed Bonanzas were plagued with an unsettling 'wiggle' and went to a conventional tail (vertical stabilizer and horizontal tailplane) for current models.
An old Indian chief who looked at a Beecraft noted "Ugh, arrow need 3 feathers to fly straight!"
Interesting design, anyway...
AF crew chief for 7 years and I know all about FOD, FOD walks, FOD prevention, blah, blah.
...I know all about FOD...
If I use an acronym I'll define it for the readership not 'in the business'; no slight intended...
None taken. Totally understand with the acronyms. Are you in the aircraft maintenance industry?
Which is the company that makes parachutes for airplanes. Can one be rigged to this plane?
No, just contribute to it - SEL private pilot. Push around an old Cessna and a Diamond DA-20 :)
Phantomworker has a copy of my ping list too.
Cirrus Design of Duluth, MN is one of them.
Is that your Luscombe Sedan in the background on your page?
On the Bonanza's V-Tail, wasn't that more structural issues that gave it the wiggles?
Leeon Davis claimed his all flying tails Tailed Davis homebuilt didn't share the Bonanza's wiggles. Ditto that Monnett and his Waiex.
I would imagine FOD may be less of an issue with this new Eclipse Bird, the Inlet seems to be in a bit of a protected zone, even from the mains.
Good eye....and a beauty! Pic was taken at the 2005 Reno Air Races.
Regarding the Bonanza, and Leeon Davis's designs not withstanding, that aircrafts' problems were probably more structural than aerodynamic, though FAA studies were inconclusive; the 'V' configuration might have induced flutter that caused structural failure.
It still killed a higher number of people than other aircraft at that time. I have, btw, seen a V-tail Bonanzas with a 'skeg' appendage added, but no chance to talk with the owner regarding that modification.
I'm certain the Cirrus engineers researched all issues before choosing that configuration, and certification will wring it out to failure points.
Still, I have to believe that the old Indian knew something... :)
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