Designed A Float Plane

[tinlail]

Mounting the engines to the floats instead of the fuselage would seem to be a big structual win.

[kitflubber]

Tinlail,

That is a good idea, and I have some sketches like that. I was trying to think about ease of use, pilot and crew embarking/ dosembarking via wing... I wanted to keep the engines a bit up and away from them. I'll look more at that idea.

[kitflubber]

BTW, here is the style of plane that led me down this design avenue in the first place -- instead of such a radical scoop, I figured a Stuka style wing would reap some of the same benefits. I have no idea if that's true; but the Stuka gull wing still looks elegant anyway, for the fact that it swoops down to hold the pontoon with no ugly strutwork.

http://www.angelfire.com/va3/bythefire/

[kitflubber]

Tinlail,

Good call -- I love the engines there!

http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u162/ki...%20Pontoon%202/

[tinlail]

I like it.
I the think the channel wing can be but thought of as half of a ducted fan, which case I understand that propeller to duct clearance needs to be small and uniform for good results. However your design does seem to reduce the weight needed to support the floats which would be a good thing.

The way your fulselage is laid out makes me think about  what it would be like as a cargo plane. In which case I guess the engines would be turned to face forward.

What software are you using?

[kitflubber]

Tinlail,

I am using Strata 3D. I was thinking today that Moller, the guy who keeps promising us a flying car, would benefit from using channel wing ducts instead of full ducts as he is now.

Here is a link to very quick channel wing float plane:

http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u162/ki...0Float%20Plane/

Next I am going to try a flying car    

[cthulhu77]

Tom, that's already been done.

[kitflubber]

The evil Baron will never get his hands on my flying car.

[GTX]

I was thinking today that Moller, the guy who keeps promising us a flying car, would benefit from using channel wing ducts instead of full ducts as he is now.

Oh, I think he needs a lot more help than that - I can't believe that people (and Journo's) keep believing he has anything to offer.

Regards,

Greg

[cthulhu77]

I was thinking today that Moller, the guy who keeps promising us a flying car, would benefit from using channel wing ducts instead of full ducts as he is now.

Oh, I think he needs a lot more help than that - I can't believe that people (and Journo's) keep believing he has anything to offer.

Regards,

Greg

What the f***?  You DON'T believe in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?  Commie.

[GTX]

Actually, I think the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has a greater chance of flying than anyhting from Mollier!

Regards,

Greg

[cthulhu77]

Neat site on gev craft:

http://www.du-groundeffect.com/

[kitflubber]

Well, I decided to fool around with my own 'Moller' Plane using the Custer channel wings. I read a NASA article last night about recent work with channel wings augmented with a pneumatic system to blow air from a slot in the trailing edge. It gave a great boost in performance.

http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u162/ki...r/Flying%20Car/

After I've built my working model, I plan to fly to Moller's house and ask to see his 'flying' car.    

[solidmodeler]

The Stuka-wing float plane is a very cool design. Did anyone ever build a model?

[John Howling Mouse]

I'm thinking a cessna body, with a bunch of scratchbuilding?  Sir Baz?

Or he could use the fuselage from a Hasegawa Learjet or Falcon in 1:48 or the Airfix Dominie in 1:72?