Lowestoft Air Festival 2008-07-25, Avro Vulcan XH558 - Vulc_XH558_Low2008-11081.jpg (1/1)

[Dave Whiley]

[Alan Erskine[_3_]]

"Dave Whiley" > wrote in message
...

Have a look at the wing leading edge. I always thought it was a smooth
curve, but it's actually several staight lines.

[Dave Whiley]

Alan Erskine wrote:

> Have a look at the wing leading edge. I always thought it was a smooth
> curve, but it's actually several staight lines.

Yes, it's especially noticeable in that shot.

Last November, I went to a lecture by one of the team involved in
preserving a different Vulcan in fast-taxi condition. One thing he said
was that the original design was for an absolutely straight leading
edge, but there were compressibility problems that almost led to the
project being cancelled. Changing the leading edge shape cured the problem.

I would guess that compressibility still happens, but over a different,
shorter section of wing at various different speeds. I'd also guess
that putting a couple of corners in the leading edge was easier to
implement than redesigning the wing to a fully curved shape in Concorde
style.

On the other hand, those guesses could be a long way off the mark!

--
Dave

not-me should be djw001 and there's no need for any wossname

[Alan Erskine[_3_]]

"Dave Whiley" > wrote in message
...
> Last November, I went to a lecture by one of the team involved in
> preserving a different Vulcan in fast-taxi condition. One thing he said
> was that the original design was for an absolutely straight leading edge,
> but there were compressibility problems that almost led to the project
> being cancelled. Changing the leading edge shape cured the problem.

I was wondering what it did to the RCS.

[Dave Whiley]

Alan Erskine wrote:
> "Dave Whiley" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Last November, I went to a lecture by one of the team involved in
>> preserving a different Vulcan in fast-taxi condition. One thing he said
>> was that the original design was for an absolutely straight leading edge,
>> but there were compressibility problems that almost led to the project
>> being cancelled. Changing the leading edge shape cured the problem.
>
> I was wondering what it did to the RCS.
>
>

Something else I've been told (on a visit to see XH558 about five years
ago, when she was up on jacks and stripped down for restoration) was
that the shape of the Vulcan had many "stealthy" characteristics, albeit
by luck rather than any particular design intent. That enormous fin
would take away much of the benefit, though.

--
Dave

not-me should be djw001 and there's no need for any wossname