RE: Conair - Could an airplane do this?

[weirdichi]

Maybe we can write Mythbusters and have them do it.

 

[Krazy4Real]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: Googer
Towing a car with a large plane is on the same scale as a small plane towning a non-aerodynamic banner

Nice photoshop. We all KNOW small planes cant pull big banners like that.
Jeez.

OMG what kind of plane is this? It's even bigger than the airbus! Look at its size compared to the planet.

Text

 

[JMWarren]

I've know idiots at the local flying club to take of in a 172 or 152 forgetting to remove the concrete filled truck tire thats attached to the tail tie down point. Consider a 152 only has 110 HP (Probably less most are 30 years old) and a fully loaded weight of under 1700lbs, The corvette should be easy for a decent sized jet.

 

[glenn beck]

lol "big engine, light weight, hippy car..."

 

[Scarpozzi]

You're comparing a prop plane to a jet....there's little comparison when it comes to thrust...

The problem with dragging a car behind the cargo plane isn't that it couldn't pull it off the ground. Considering that a car travelling over 150mph that gets wind under it will basically fly, that's fine and dandy. The problem is that once airborne, it's NOT aerodynamic. It would be flopping around and subject to so many forces that it would cause the plane severe problems and the weight and drag could potentially rip the aircraft's structure apart. I believe in the movie, it was tied off inside somehow....it would have ripped whatever it was tied to apart....potentially broken the chain or straps holding it.

Otherwise, there would have been another weak link that would have broken. If it had not, the plane would be pulled down by the drag and the pilot would have little chance of getting it to respond. The severe drag of the car pwns what an elevator, and aliarons can do to control the aircraft.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
The car would be flapping around like a toy behind the airplane as soon as it left the ground.

I don't think Mr. Bernoulli agrees that the effects of the craft's wake and non laminar flow around the car would produce a force sufficient to alter its course while in flight at that speed but then again - let's test it out!

Okay, we'll use your car mkay?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Okay, we'll use your car mkay?

I don't have a car.

Well I have a few models but they don't count.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
The car would be flapping around like a toy behind the airplane as soon as it left the ground.

yeah, it would probably be hanging lower than in that picture, too.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

The first thing I thought of was how they used to have gliders towed behind planes

Example
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CG-4_Hadrian

 

[tyler811]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: ATLien247
I'm surprised you're asking such a question, MS Dawn. I thought you knew everything about everything!

Hardly but I like to share with others so everyone gets smarter in the end.

Sometimes the insane make the most sense on crazy days.

Oh and I hate airplanes.

Actually I like reading Ms Dawns posts. I have learned a thing or two by reading them.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: tyler811

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: ATLien247
I'm surprised you're asking such a question, MS Dawn. I thought you knew everything about everything!

Hardly but I like to share with others so everyone gets smarter in the end.

Sometimes the insane make the most sense on crazy days.

Oh and I hate airplanes.

Actually I like reading Ms Dawns posts. I have learned a thing or two by reading them.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=42&threadid=1966333&enterthread=y

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

ever strap a paper sign to a paper airplane? It spins and twirls out of control (the sign). The car if behidn hte 747 might be able to do it (far behind), like maybe 200 ft behind it. But I think the car woudl be spinning and whatever instead of remaining right side up like in conair.

Why a 747... They should try a 777. Those throw out like 80,000+ lbs of thrust. The engine itself is as big as a 737 fuselage. 747s don't even have the most powerful engines. Plus they only turned 2 on at a time. Imagine if all 4 were running =)

 

[mercanucaribe]

That depends. Is the plane on a conveyor belt?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
That depends. Is the plane on a conveyor belt?

They tied it to one and the other side is attached to the undercarriage of the most outrageously expensive sports car in the world.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: Googer
Towing a car with a large plane is on the same scale as a small plane towning a non-aerodynamic banner

I've got 500 hours or so pulling banners. The biggest ones, 30' x 120', weigh in at about 100 pounds. We pulled those with 180HP C170's and C175's, CS props, STOL wing mods, and stripped down to a bare minimum.
Those signs have tails with pockets to catch the air and straighten or stabilize the sign. The lead poles have weights to get them started right side up, and the bridle is asymmetrical also.

The car thing is fairly improbable due to aerodynamic instability. It could not generate enough lift to overcome weight, nor would it behave nicely back there in the tow. It would fishtail around like a broken lead pole does. That sucks, a crappy feeling when you are getting steered around by the tow.
The CG change would likely be a dealbreaker in itself.

 

[Martin]

Sure it could - the corvette only weighs around 3000 pounds (or 10 American passengers).

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Martin
Sure it could - the corvette only weighs around 3000 pounds (or 10 American passengers).

:Q

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: Martin
Sure it could - the corvette only weighs around 3000 pounds (or 10 American passengers).

:Q

I kid, I kid I'm no stick figure myself