At 20:12 21 October 2004, Denis wrote:
COLIN LAMB a écrit :
If a wing is replaced by a rotating cylinder, with
the forward surface
rotating upward, lift will be produced. The local
air velocity is high on
top and low on the bottom. This upward force is known
as magnus effect.

The information above comes from my helicopter handbook.
The theory is used
to explain some helicopter principles, but caused
me to wonder more about
it. Has anyone every produced an airplane using the
magnus effect? If the
cylinder is rotating faster, I would expect that lift
would be increased.
Does anyone know if there have been any writings and/or
test aircraft? Not
much use with a glider, for obvious reasons - but
the answer would make me a
bit smarter. I was not able to find much on the internet.

No sailplanes, but a sailboat did navigate using rotary
masts.

The boat sailed around a triangular course in a completely
upright position - no heeling.

It was designed by Flettner -- the same one who gave
us the Flettner (anti-servo) Tab.