|
|
|
|
Original Message
|
| Not really, Dave, they're . . . |
| By Orin - 11/20/2001 9:49:08 AM; IP 209.122.55.15 |
. . .actually annular wings. This is one of those often-explored but seldom-developed arms of aviation that has intrigued inventors for years.
The outside ring is actually an air foil; it's the same as a regular wing but instead of being straight it is rounded. The principal is that the prop sucks the air over the airfoil and creates lift, allowing the device to fly. Several examples of these things were built -- and flown! -- in the 40s and 50s. The most recent example being the Custer (yes, the grandnephew of THAT Custer) Channel Wing.
The examples you've shown here are early Minneapolis-Moline model #145AW ('145' = square feet of wing surface, 'AW' = annular wing)that can be tethered to the ground and flown in circles about 15-20 feet over fields to help dissipate frost, fog, etc. Larger models were also built but were not sucessful because they scared the cows so much they wouldn't give milk. |
|
|
This thread, so far...
|
|
|
|
Post A Response
|
|
|
|
|
|