I can remember going out with a couple of girls who had skirts/dresses that short 

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 15, 2022, 04:11:13 AM

Quote from: zenrat on August 15, 2022, 03:36:33 AM
"Feminine uniform with very short miniskirt" makes me think of Star Trek (the original series).

Thoughts of the late Nichelle Nichols spring instantly to mind.

I did not know, but Google finds. Yes, not very long...
https://ar.pinterest.com/pin/AfiRF5xGydnOWAXfYJVTkFdOTY0D261jzWQgBmw6xnESRhVkp39RYM8/

Does this decoration explain?
Or is it a joke from jealous male mechanics?

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_br.jpg

The next one was featuring a strong asymmetry for a very important clever reason
and, uh... I have forgotten which one, sorry

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_bs.jpg

For this new version, documents are more precise. It was judged as better than the previous one, or worse, uh, yes "better or worse" was the conclusion.
And concerning involved technical details, this came from stealth reasons, or solidity, or... aerodynamics, or electronics, or ethics, or aesthetics.
I hope you enjoy such useful details, helping to understand all.

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_bt.jpg

Quote from: Tophe on August 14, 2022, 08:15:14 AMHere is the first Twin-Lightning with very special undercarriage. Retracting the front wheel that hold on two fuselages required a technical masterpiece (nowadays we would say "a jewel of high technology"):

Another undercarriage, inspired by the Harrier success:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_bu.jpg

Quote from: Tophe on August 18, 2022, 07:18:45 PMThe next one was featuring a strong asymmetry for a very important clever reason

A double version of it was symmetric again:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_bv.jpg

You probably know that nowadays the ecologists are condemning any use of petroleum (kerosene for aircraft or else), but at the time of the Twin-Lightning (20th century), they were saying something different from the danger of greenhouse gas produced by combustion. The problem was finishing the Earth stock of petroleum, that seemed very small, meaning no more plastic in the future, catastrophe, "stop using petroleum, all aircraft should be powered by electricity, from dams or solar factories!". Moreover, "English Electric" seemed doubly guilty as not respecting the Electric word in the company name. So in urgency was designed an UAV small version with electric engines and propellers.

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_by.jpg

new drawing of cartoon Twin-Lightnings:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/twee-lightning-toon.jpg

Another cartoon:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/twee-lightning-toon2.jpg

Quote from: Tophe on August 20, 2022, 09:43:51 AMin urgency was designed an UAV small version with electric engines and propellers.

Uh, were the air intakes a mistake due to urgency? Electric engines use no air for burning nor exploding, but... no, this is not a mistake: electric engines are in danger of overheating, and fans are almost systematically used to cool down electric engines with fresh air flow.

Then a parasol wing version of the Twin-Lightning was designed but without (commercial) success: 

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_bz.jpg

This Twin-Lightning seemed rather fragile:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_ca.jpg

Oh my 

Thanks!

And the pilot's visibility was very improved on this version (not more solid though)  

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/EE-Lightning_cc.jpg