Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 22:32:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Rauhnee Ranshanka Subject: Re: Technology in MKC Rudnicki, Edward J. wrote: >> Well, one could have ductwork to direct the exhaust forward. >> We already know that the internal volume of the TurboKat is >> substantially greater than outward appearances would indicate, >> so what's a few meters of superalloy exhaust ducting :) Besides, >> the front "nozzles" are well-positioned for realism, in that the >> front and rear nozzles in VTOL mode provide thrust at roughly >> equal distances from the center of mass (the nose and cockpit >> contributing relatively little compared to the engines and >> weapons bay and other midships items). And you might want >> to look at other designs than the Harrier (which is quite >> unique), especially the Yak-141, which has a rear nozzle much >> further back than on a Harrier, and forward lift engines equally >> far forward of the center of mass. The Harrier, OTOH, has the >> nozzle pairs close together because of its unique and unconventional >> engine design; the Russian engines are more conventional. I agree with you about the position of the nozzles, just not where they get their power from (and I concede that redirecting it from another engine is certainly possible with Razor building it -- I'm the one that thinks that bird has a basic disregard for physics at best). The Yak VTOL's are a difficult set of craft to get much info on (if you know of any sites, could you send them to me?), but from what I have they are not much different from the Harriers with how the exhaust exits (namely it does not do a 180 on the way out). I think this may be where we agree to disagree on how likely an option is. >>Doesn't the new F-18 have avionics that'll do pretty much the >> same thing when a pilot loses control? >It is the F/A-18 Hornet and as of the last data release I have > access to, no aircraft has such a system installed. There are > a few aircraft (the F-117 Nighthawk primarily) that has a button > the pilot must press that will position the craft flat, level > and upright without any other impute, but an auto system does > not yet exist in practice, and likely never will -- it's too > dangerous to have your craft suddenly decide to level itself > out in the middle of a dogfight (katfight?, birdfight? -- do > kats actually mention word for this?). >> I suspect you're familiar with work not yet complete, on AI >> systems that will "fight" the aircraft for brief periods >> should the pilot black out from g-loads, until he/she recovers. >> Not implemented yet, but not very far over the horizon either. >> The intent of the system is to monitor the pilot's vitals and >> take action only if blackout occurs, so there's not too much >> risk of the aircraft making its own decisions when uncalled for . I can't recall hearing about this, but on the same count, I have few doubts it is under research (how far it gets and in what form it comes out in is very debatable). Do you know where you heard about it? (I want to look it up -- if it's real, any info could be useful as I use several AI's of varying complexity levels). -- ----------------- Rauhnee Ranshanka GateKat@SWATKats.Net ************************************************************************* "But not too long ago, I was at another air show, staring open-mouthed at a pair of the last surviving F-4s. They screamed in with fantastic grace, smudging the blue sky gray at full military power, sun diamonding off the canopy. Their roar met mine at the top of my throat, flaps and stabilators fluttering, four gray helmets nodding toward me as they arced out of sight towing a scream, then silence, and then I knew I had not ever even gotten close to what flying fighters is really like. And I knew I never would. No one ever could." Michael Skinner Marietta, Georgia January 1993 ************************************************************************* -------------------<< Advertisement >>------------------- 200,000 exposures for $450? Where? --> Coollist - http://www.coollist.com/advertise.htm ---------------------------------------------------------