Comments on: Winged Rail Car Rides on Air http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:25:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: B22 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-1050545 B22 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:54:21 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-1050545 The science behind this idea is basically sound. See this site, where a team in Japan have built a prototype: http://www.ifs.tohoku.ac.jp/kohama-lab/aerotrain_outline-e.html As you can see, in the Japanese design, any worries about wing-tip vortices are dealt with. The science behind this idea is basically sound. See this site, where a team in Japan have built a prototype:

http://www.ifs.tohoku.ac.jp/ko.....ine-e.html

As you can see, in the Japanese design, any worries about wing-tip vortices are dealt with.

]]> By: Mike Fletcher http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-924237 Mike Fletcher Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:22:24 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-924237 One thing more than any other will kill this idea - induced drag. This is drag caused by the creation of lift, and would considerably increase the amount of energy required to move it (weight from the duplication of undercarriage and the wing notwithstanding). Even with all of the space in the designers plans there would be a fairly uncomfortable shock every time two of these passed in opposite directions from each other, from their wing tip vortices (assuming they didn't blow cars off the road before they ever got that far). Finally attempting to stop this (with steel wheels on steel rails) at anywhere near the projected speeds seems somewhat problematic. Airliners need 6000+ foot runways for a reason - and they have more to work with when it comes to slowing down. It seems to impose the worst of both trains (rigid infrastructure) and airplanes (energy losses due to the generation of lift) without really gaining anything from it. One thing more than any other will kill this idea - induced drag.
This is drag caused by the creation of lift, and would considerably increase the amount of energy required to move it (weight from the duplication of undercarriage and the wing notwithstanding).
Even with all of the space in the designers plans there would be a fairly uncomfortable shock every time two of these passed in opposite directions from each other, from their wing tip vortices (assuming they didn’t blow cars off the road before they ever got that far).
Finally attempting to stop this (with steel wheels on steel rails) at anywhere near the projected speeds seems somewhat problematic.
Airliners need 6000+ foot runways for a reason - and they have more to work with when it comes to slowing down.

It seems to impose the worst of both trains (rigid infrastructure) and airplanes (energy losses due to the generation of lift) without really gaining anything from it.

]]> By: Stannous http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-305077 Stannous Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:26:36 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-305077 JSL- I'm laughing at your obvious observation that I missed. Stan JSL-
I’m laughing at your obvious observation that I missed.
Stan

]]> By: jayessell http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-303869 jayessell Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:06:38 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-303869 <b>Stannous</b> Tunnels. See also the "Capsian Sea Monster". (Ground effect craft.) Stannous

Tunnels.

See also the “Capsian Sea Monster”.
(Ground effect craft.)

]]> By: Stannous http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-302047 Stannous Wed, 04 Jul 2007 20:17:29 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/07/04/winged-rail-car-rides-on-air/#comment-302047 If you create less friction on the rails don't you also experience a loss of drive power? Unless it was flexible in the middle the rear wheels would not be sharing equally in the drive. Wings large enough to have any significant effect on something as a self-powered train would probably be much bigger than the ones shown. Judging from the size of the seated passenger the wings are only about 10-12 feet off the ground. This would require a HUGE right-of-way with no telegraph or power poles. It looks like its at least the width of a 12 lane freeway. If you create less friction on the rails don’t you also experience a loss of drive power? Unless it was flexible in the middle the rear wheels would not be sharing equally in the drive.

Wings large enough to have any significant effect on something as a self-powered train would probably be much bigger than the ones shown.

Judging from the size of the seated passenger the wings are only about 10-12 feet off the ground.
This would require a HUGE right-of-way with no telegraph or power poles. It looks like its at least the width of a 12 lane freeway.

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