NASA AGATE Glider Kit

A glider is a heavier-than-air aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine.

The simplest way to learn the basics of flight and to understand its aerodynamic characteristics is to simply build your very own glider and flying it.

NASA's AGATE Glider kit provides you a deep insight on aerodynamic characteristics of a flight, download the free PDF from the below link and get started.

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Samples of the 3D model done by our team and yes it flies!

Wright Flyer 1903

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Geodetic airframe

A geodesic (or geodetic) airframe is a type of construction for the airframes of aircraft developed by British aeronautical engineer Barnes Wallis in the 1930s. It makes use of a space frame formed from a spirally crossing basket-weave of load-bearing members.

The principle is that two geodesic arcs can be drawn to intersect on a curving surface (the fuselage) in a manner that the torsional load on each cancels out that on the other.

Barnes Wallis, inspired by his earlier experience with light alloy structures and the use of geodesically-arranged wiring to distribute the lifting loads of the gasbags in the design of the R100 airship, evolved the geodetic construction method (although it is commonly stated, there no geodetic structure in R100).

Wallis used the term "geodetic" to apply to the airframe and distinguish it from "geodesic" which is the proper term for a line on a curved surface, arising from geodesy

Williams X-Jet

The Williams X-Jet, created by Williams International, was a small, one-man, light-weight, Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft powered by a modified Williams F107 turbofan aircraft engine designated WR-19-7 after some minor modifications. The vehicle was nicknamed "The Flying Pulpit" for its shape, apparently. It was designed to be operated by / carry one person and controlled by leaning in the direction of desired travel together with the modulation of its input power. It could move in any direction, accelerate rapidly, hover and rotate on its axis, stay aloft for up to 45 minutes and travel at speeds up to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). It was evaluated by the U.S. Army in the 1980s, but was deemed inferior to the capabilities of helicopters and small, unmanned aircraft and so the development of the X-Jet was discontinued.

The US PATENT NUMBER 4,447,024 is designated for the Williams X-Jet. Technical information and drawings are available at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The WASP II uses a slightly modified and derated version of the WR-19-A7D which yields 600 lbs thrust from its micro turbofan engine and is designated WR19-7 ― rated at 570 lbs thrust, after minor modifications and said derating. Modifications to the WR-19-A7D included accessories (replacement of pyro starter with electric/air start) and exhaust system modifications. No internal modifications to the counter-rotating micro turbofans were performed. The first manned, untethered flight was conducted in April 1980. Ray Le Grande is one of the WASP II operators trained by Williams International to fly the X-Jet.

Video Below

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_X-Jet

Spectacular photograph of F-22 raptor with rainbow behind

Stunning photograph of F-22 Raptor with rainbow over it was captured at Miramar Air Show in San Diego, California in 2008.

This rare phenomenon occurs when the pilot pulls the aircraft at high G's creating a low pressure over the fuselage cooling the air near it to condense to water, At the same time aircraft is at particular angle just right for sunlight to undergo total internal refraction and make rainbow colors around it.

The effect was enhanced by Mr Malfitano upping the contrast on the original photograph to maximise the rainbow, which had the added effect of making the plane appear like a silhouette.

This photograph also won second prize in the Museum of Flight's Spirit of flight annual photography competition in Seattle.



Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1309709/Stunning-rainbow-pictured-trail-F-22-fighter-jet.html