Draco crash on takeoff 16 Sept 2019

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Yup. You guys were right. He deliberately wrecked it (with his wife on board) to collect the insurance on an airplane that he didn't want any more...

 

[Salty]

You are correct about the lift differential associated with aileron, but I still disagree with you guys saying the right wing was stalled when the right tire never came off the ground, and also because of the fact that with full power and flaps, this airplane's stall deck angle is significantly higher than what is achieved in a 3-point or very slightly tail raised attitude. Could not have been stalled at such a low deck angle and AOA. The only way it could have reached critical AOA at this pitch attitude is if the airplane was descending, but of course the runway surface prevented this.

So, if the plane is going 1 mph at that deck angle, it can’t be stalled? Seems like you are forgetting that airspeed is a factor. With slow enough forward movement that plane can certainly stall at ANY deck angle, even when not descending.

 

[Dana]

So, if the plane is going 1 mph at that deck angle, it can’t be stalled? Seems like you are forgetting that airspeed is a factor. With slow enough forward movement that plane can certainly stall at ANY deck angle, even when not descending.

No it can't, not unless the AOA gets to the critical angle. Airspeed is NOT a factor (disregarding second order effects like Reynolds number effects).

 

[Salty]

No it can't, not unless the AOA gets to the critical angle. Airspeed is NOT a factor (disregarding second order effects like Reynolds number effects).

Cool. So draco can levitate. Awesome.

 

[Salty]

Actually, I misunderstood your point, you are in fact correct.

 

[RoscoeT]

So, if the plane is going 1 mph at that deck angle, it can’t be stalled? Seems like you are forgetting that airspeed is a factor. With slow enough forward movement that plane can certainly stall at ANY deck angle, even when not descending.

So you're modifying the definition of a stall to include the time spent taxiing to the runway? Stall means turbulent and detached airflow over the wing inflight as a result of exceeding critical AOA.

 

[kgruber]

Doesn't have to be "inflight."

 

[RoscoeT]

Doesn't have to be "inflight."

I hate it when I stall the airplane before it gets off the ground.

 

[Kenny Phillips]

Cool. So draco can levitate. Awesome.

It can also fold up in five secionds and be transported in a trailer. Unfolding takes a lot more time.
The good news is that it WILL be unfolded.