Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer

[John Kunkel]

Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt Rutan
and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of plywood and
tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with the correct
AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines, truth or myth?

[Steve Foley]

"John Kunkel" > wrote in message
. ..
> Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt
> Rutan and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of
> plywood and tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with
> the correct AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines,
> truth or myth?

I've never seen that one, but I believe that theory was confirmed with the
video of the flying lawnmower.

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Steve Foley" > wrote in message
...
> "John Kunkel" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt
>> Rutan and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of
>> plywood and tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with
>> the correct AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines,
>> truth or myth?
>
> I've never seen that one, but I believe that theory was confirmed with the
> video of the flying lawnmower.

Actually, the flying lawnmower has a real wing airfoil, buried under the
profile.

A flying stop sign is a valid example, though.

It is truly a flat sheet of foam board, with control surfaces and an engine.
--
Jim in NC

[Dan[_2_]]

Morgans wrote:
> "Steve Foley" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "John Kunkel" > wrote in message
>> . ..
>>> Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt
>>> Rutan and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of
>>> plywood and tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with
>>> the correct AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines,
>>> truth or myth?
>> I've never seen that one, but I believe that theory was confirmed with the
>> video of the flying lawnmower.
>
> Actually, the flying lawnmower has a real wing airfoil, buried under the
> profile.
>
> A flying stop sign is a valid example, though.
>
> It is truly a flat sheet of foam board, with control surfaces and an engine.

I liked the flying Snoopy on his dog house. I can't remember who made it.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Dan" > wrote

> I liked the flying Snoopy on his dog house. I can't remember who made
> it.

How about this link, for starters?

<http://www.flyingthingz.com/products/doghouse.html>
--
Jim in NC

[Dan[_2_]]

Morgans wrote:
> "Dan" > wrote
>
>> I liked the flying Snoopy on his dog house. I can't remember who made
>> it.
>
> How about this link, for starters?
>
> <http://www.flyingthingz.com/products/doghouse.html>

Close, but still nice.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[COLIN LAMB]

A few weeks ago, my friend (a pilot also) stepped onto a piece of plywood
laying on his sloping roof. He then flew the plywood down to the ground.
It did not fly very well. He broke his heelbone.

I think that no matter how big an engine you put on a piece of plywood, it
will not fly very well.

Colin

[Morgans[_2_]]

"COLIN LAMB" <> wrote

> I think that no matter how big an engine you put on a piece of plywood, it
> will not fly very well.

He's damn lucky all he broke was his heel.

It all is in the power to weight ratio, AND the weight to wing area, and to
a degree the aspect ratio.

Of course, there are helicopters, too.

Your friend's problem was that he did not have ANY engine! <g>
--
Jim in NC

[Peter Dohm]

"Morgans" > wrote in message
...
>
> "COLIN LAMB" <> wrote
>
> > I think that no matter how big an engine you put on a piece of plywood,
it
> > will not fly very well.
>
> He's damn lucky all he broke was his heel.
>
> It all is in the power to weight ratio, AND the weight to wing area, and
to
> a degree the aspect ratio.
>
> Of course, there are helicopters, too.
>
> Your friend's problem was that he did not have ANY engine! <g>
> --
> Jim in NC
>
>
This reminds me that a friend, who is an Air Force veteran, told me that
helicopters can not actually fly--they are just so damned ugly that the
earth repels them!

That's his story and he's stickin' to it.
Peter

[[email protected]]

On May 4, 5:39 pm, "John Kunkel" > wrote:
> Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt Rutan
> and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of plywood and
> tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with the correct
> AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines, truth or myth?

If you're going to tether it, why bother with the plywood?

Just suspend at least one tether from above so that the prop can't
strike the ground, duct tape the proverbial brick to the engine,
and fly away.

--

FF