This will probably be regarded as heresy by some........

[albeback]

....... but, I have a pair of Airfix VC-10 kits & kind of got this crazy idea about a sort of super extended tandem winged  version with the standard 4 R R Conways tail mounted & 4  R R Conways mounted under the forward wings (in pairs). Now, I know the normal rules of aerodynamics don't apply in Whifworld but, I'd at least like it to be really workable (if implausible!! ). I could mount the forward wings on the upper fuselage but, would a layout involving both sets of wings, one behind the other actually work or, would the vortex created by the forward wings actually destroy the airflow over the rear wings thereby rendering it unflyable?

I'd also toyed with the notion of a longer, more stramlined nose with a Vulcan type canopy
As you have probably gathered, I know precious little about REAL aerodynamics so, any useful info would be appreciated.

Now, in case you're wondering, I seem to remember seeing a large tandem winged transport aircraft on one of the Gerry Anderson series. Might have been Thunderbirds! Can't remember exactly where.

Allan

I would just LOVE to try this in 1/72 scale but, in the absence of a proper scale VC-10 I M kit, I haver no alternative but to turn to the dark side & use 1/144!!

I'm sure a lot of you probably think this is nuts!! I tend to agree!!

[Cobra]

Albeback,the transport you mention was Featured in the Thunderbirds Episode,'The Cham Cham' it was called the RTL2! Go For it,Man! Hope this Helps. Dan

[Mossie]

Sod the heresy, go for it!

Not tandem wing, but double decker, twin & triple fuselage versions were drawn up so it's only another shade of craziness!

[Weaver]

Tandem wing is perfectly respectable aerodynamics, just not very common. Since you're not going to be maneuvering at high AoA, there's no pressing need for the front wing to be higher than the back one. It can be at the same height, as long at the horizontal separation is far enough (and it will be). I'd be inclined to keep the front wing low, then put the front engines above it, far enough outboard that the rear ones arn't eating their exhaust. The jet wash from the front engines shouldn't affect the rear wing much, and might even help it by boosting the flow speed over it's upper surface. This will also help avoid too much cabin noise, which you'd get if the front engines' exhaust was washing down the sides of the fuselage.

[PR19_Kit]

Tandem wings worked fine in earlier days, viz the various Miles Libellila aircraft, albeit with the wings if differing sizes. And Westland did that too with the Lysander P.12 which used the Delanne system with very similar wing pairs, as did many Delannes as well.

Of course the real Linellula, a species of dragonfly, gets along just fine with tandem wings.  

[Weaver]

Lockspeiser LDA from 1975: http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200753.html

I always really liked this thing: a sort of flying Landrover for the third world. Projected advanced versions had a tail ramp and two engines on swivelling pylons amidships that let them elevate through 45 deg to improve STOL performance. Unfortunately, the prototype was destroyed in the same hangar fire that scuppered the Edgely Optica (first time around).

[RussC]

....... but, I have a pair of Airfix VC-10 kits & kind of got this crazy idea about a sort of super extended tandem winged  version with the standard 4 R R Conways tail mounted & 4  R R Conways mounted under the forward wings (in pairs). Now, I know the normal rules of aerodynamics don't apply in Whifworld but, I'd at least like it to be really workable (if implausible!! ). I could mount the forward wings on the upper fuselage but, would a layout involving both sets of wings, one behind the other actually work or, would the vortex created by the forward wings actually destroy the airflow over the rear wings thereby rendering it unflyable?

I'd also toyed with the notion of a longer, more stramlined nose with a Vulcan type canopy
As you have probably gathered, I know precious little about REAL aerodynamics so, any useful info would be appreciated.

Now, in case you're wondering, I seem to remember seeing a large tandem winged transport aircraft on one of the Gerry Anderson series. Might have been Thunderbirds! Can't remember exactly where.

Allan

I would just LOVE to try this in 1/72 scale but, in the absence of a proper scale VC-10 I M kit, I haver no alternative but to turn to the dark side & use 1/144!!

I'm sure a lot of you probably think this is nuts!! I tend to agree!!

  144th scale , don't be afraid.....  
 
 Just don't build a Junkers E581 in it , like I did.
 
 

The squares on the parking area are just over 1 inch. --eyestrain and the temptation to build the model attached to the end of a dowel, so it can be handled....
 
 Built the Airfix VC-10, great kit, the newer ones have really good decals.

[albeback]

Thanks for all the tips folks! . in particular ;

Dan - I KNEW it was an Anderson idea!! Pity I don't have the series on DVD.  Think a visit to HMV might be imminent

Weaver - It never  occurred to me to mount the engines above the wings. I had sort pf planned to mount them about mid point so that (a) the rear engines wouldn't suck in the exhaust and, (b) there would be (just) enough ground clearance. I like your idea though.

Gerry Anderson's creations were a heaven for "whiffers". It's a shame there aren't really any decent kits available. A decent scale Zero X or Fireflash would  be just AWESOME!!

One I'd really love to try is this one!! For the uninitiated, it's the VG-104 advanced tactical fighter. It featured in an episode of Joe 90 ( I hated that know it all brat!! ).

[PR19_Kit]

Lockspeiser LDA from 1975: http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200753.html

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about that, quite an ingenious idea and it was a pity it was wrecked by the fire. The tesbed wouldn't be too difficult to scratchbuild I'd have thought.

[Rheged]

A VC10 is going to be  a beautiful  machine, whatever you do with it .  Go for it!

If I decide to  try to build an LDA, will it count as a Whiff or just a not-quite?

[PR19_Kit]

I've tried to save that LDA page from FlighyGlobal twice now, and it locks up at 82% and crashes my browser!

I'd forgotten it was painted in a civvie scheme on the starboard side and a camo scheme on the port side.  Tophe would love that!

[Hobbes]

I've tried to save that LDA page from FlighyGlobal twice now, and it locks up at 82% and crashes my browser!

check your mail 

[PR19_Kit]

Outsteken!   (one of the few Dutch words I know, even if I can't spell it properly...)

Thanks so much Harro, much obliged.

[Weaver]

Lockspeiser LDA from 1975: http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200753.html

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about that, quite an ingenious idea and it was a pity it was wrecked by the fire. The tesbed wouldn't be too difficult to scratchbuild I'd have thought.

Since my Helivan has left me with a spare set of wings, it occurs to me that something of this ilk might be a good thing to do with my other Skyvan...

[PR19_Kit]

I can't recall seeing what the full scale version of the LDA would have looked like, but a tandem winged Skyvan can't have been far off the final result!