TWITT ArchiveAdditional Materials |
Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-X |
The AK-X flying wing
sailplane is being built by the students of Akaflieg
Karlsruhe in Germany. The AK-X is promising to be the
next big thing in high performance Standard Class (15 m)
sailplanes. The AK-X is in fact a continuation of the
legendary SB-13, exploiting the invaluable experience
gained by its predecessor. The Akaflieg Karlsruhe
expects a performance in par with larger tailed
sailplanes (18 m??) without the (admittedly few)
shortcomings of the SB-13. Let's hope that they succeed.
The Akaflieg posts a Youtube video reporting the
progress of the project almost every month. Here is the
link: https://www.youtube.com/c/AkademischeFliegergruppeamKITKarlsruhe/videos
And also find below the
site of the Akaflieg Karlsruhe, where more interesting
material regarding the AK-X can be found ( this material
is in German, but a translator will do the job): AK-X | Akaflieg Karlsruhe
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Horten
- Stability Considerations in Sweptback Wings |
R. Horten's "Stability
Considerations in Sweptback Wings," in which he presents
his theory of making the highly tapered sweptback flying
wing platform (which is the configuration that he used
for his flying wings throughout his life) tip-stall
proof and spin proof (the "C-Point" theory). Strangely,
this is a paper I hadn't read before (I discovered it a
couple of months ago). All of those fellows who have
studied K. Nickel's book "Tailless Aircraft in Theory
and Practice" will be familiar with the theory of R.
Horten presented in the attached paper, because in fact
K. Nickel was closely cooperating with him. K. Nickel
himself also in his book "Tailless Aircraft in Theory
and Practice" gives credits Horten when explaining the
theory behind the "C-Point" and its significance in
flying wings. The even more fascinating thing, is that
we still use his theory even today,
especially us RC aeromodellers, when locating the
correct CoG of a new flying wing: the well known
graphical chord construction in fact finds the Mean
Geometric Chord, the 25% of which is the "C- Point" or
"Geometric Neutral Point "!!! (See this link for how to
do it: Flying wing CG calculator.)
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Ho II Test Flight | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjXr5w3M4mc Includes detailed notes by Reimar Horten. |
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Ho XVc Pappenheim |
Nikolas provided this video of a
demonstration flight of the Ho XVc Pappenheim. |
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Ashkenas - Tailless Aircraft Performance Improvements with Relaxed Static Stability |
This I. L. Ashkenas paper "Tailless
Aircraft Performance Improvements with Relaxed Static
Stability." This paper is fascinating because in fact it
is a continuation of Northrop's work on flying wings,
solves the problems arising with the stability configured
flying wing, and clearly gives hints on how the B-2 bomber
operates. |
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Klingberg Wing Mk
II |
Rol Klingberg is now trying to finish and fly his second flying wing rigid hang glider, the "Klingberg Wing MKII." He occasionally presents his progress through YouTube videos on his channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/KlingbergWingMkII/videos). | |
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