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Jet-powered Nausicaa Glider Project
SuperElectric writes "As reported on slashdot.jp, Opensky is a project led by media artist Kazuhiko Hachiya to implement a working, jet-powered version of Moewe, the vehicle (pic) that the heroine rides on in "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind". They've successfully test-flown (.mov, 8.6MB) a 1/2 scale model, and are moving into phase 2, which includes interviewing for test pilots (women only!). Can anybody knowledgeable in experimental aeronautics speculate on how doable this is? While it's not designed for general production (riders must be less than 50 kg/120 lbs), this would certainly beat Segway any day!"
WTF.. how long has this been around?
If I could lose 10 lbs. do you think they'd let a guy be a test pilot? 6'2" 130 lbs... Anyway, regardless of how "doable" this is, doesn't it seem like a potentially dangerous means of transportation. I mean, I could understand people who already hang glide wanting one, but would you really feel safe flying this around a busy city? Granted, even if you don't feel safe, you'd look bad ass.
In the movie, she's able to carry it with one hand.
Is that possible with the model too, what kinds of materials did they use?
Studio Ghibli sues Open Sky for violation in Intelectual Propriety.
Seriusly, have it been done before? i mean, a project meant only for a movie/animation become real?
The U2 spyplane was basically a glider design with a jet engine stuffed into it.
The idea was to have a craft with an overly-large wingspan to be able to fly at the (then) extreme altitudes contemplated by the U2 designers.
I have something in common with Stephen Hawking...
FYI: Patrick Stewart will be doing one of the voice of Yupa in the upcoming US release of Nausicaa.
It's possible to build very stable aircraft, but they have high drag, because the stabilizing aerodynamic forces are fighting each other. Engine power can overcome this, which is what they're doing. This isn't a glider.
If this thing is ever flown successfully by a human, it's going to be an experienced test pilot who flies the thing. Someone who's flown very unstable aircraft. It's not going to be steered by leaning; it will need a full set of control surfaces. And they'll have to figure out some way to attach the pilot to the craft.
Assuming that the person on top of the craft would truly be the pilot and that the mass of the pilot is not insignificant to the overall mass of the plane - any control system used would have the very fun task of having to differentiate between forces exerted by the pilot's hands/body to remain balanced on the craft and the forceful inputs (ie lean left to turn left) required to control the direction of the craft.
Imagine holding on for dear life, getting a hand cramp, leaning over to distribute your weight to your other hand and the aircraft making an unintentional hairpin-turn/dive. WEEEEEE!!!!
That's the mental picture I get of the whole thing.
Let's not be too harsh. The vehicle was not designed by an idiot. The films of Miyazaki are filled with themes of flying because his family made airplane parts for Japan during the WWII. (which also explains the harsh perspective on war and conflict in Nausicaa and Mononoke) Miyazaki's mecha designs may not have much geek appeal, but I think he has a better gut feeling for flying than most. Besides, the success of the scale model flights counts for something, doesn't it? :-)
Stay sentient. Don't drink bad milk.
Not to mention an inherent instability from the not insignificant weight of the pilot riding atop of this thing.
Unless the engine is heavy enough to make sure that the plane is inherently stable, I'd say the full-scale version would be a flying deathtrap.
Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.
Someone build a fun new plane they have succesfully tested. Not some toy model but fully functional jet plane that can take of and land and is easily controlled by remote.
And what is the reaction? Oh it will never fly, it did fly. It is to unstable to control, they did control it and without a crash. Now most /. stories have a lot of uninformed opinions but usually there are at least a couple of people who happen to know what they are talking about. Where are the pilots today?
The thing does fly, wether it is safe with a human on top remains to be seen. But the aircraft without the pilot is not that different from a simple flying wing design. Flying wings are hardly new.
What is different is the placement of the payload. In the movie she lies down flat on top of it and stands on it. Most flying wing designs put the payload inside the wing.
First of laying on top of it. While this would be the most logical thing to do (look at a commercial airliner and replace the tube of the fuselage with a human body same idea) and not disrupt the aircrafts stability you would be just a passenger since there are no traditional controls (some way to move the ailerons) and you would be unable to affect the aircraft much with a shifting in weight (yes hanggliders can but the pilot is farther away from the wing making a small movement have a bigger effect). Depending on the size of the final aircraft you would also have to be carfull not to let the feet dangle in front of the exhaust. A running jet engine is not something you want to be close too. (carrier crew member around?).
Standing on top of it would create a huge amount of drag but would be doable. It is hardly a new stunt to stand on the wings of an aircraft. Don't forget that even the scale model is hardly small. The final aircraft would be pretty normal in wingspan to existing single seaters. As for controlling the aircraft in this way. Unless the aircraft is naturally very close to stable but not to stable I think it would be hard. Airliners are designed to be stable and the aircraft needs constant pressure to change its flightpath from straight and level. An F16 is extremely unstable and can only be flown by a computer. The pilot only telling the computer what the desired attitude is.
Both are not exactly designs you would want to control by shifting weights around. All but hanggliders control flight by altering the shape of the wing (correct me if I am wrong). This might be the hardest thing to do. BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. If the aircraft can be made stable enough of its own then a mere shifting of weight should affects its flightpath. Only direct control you can't do without is a throttle.
Moving between lying down and standing up would also significantly alter the profile of the aircraft. Unless the final aircraft is so big that the change in drag is meaningless.
I am not a flight engineer but I do have an avid intrest in flight and am the kinda idiot that devours books and docu's on flight pioneers. I think the makers of this plane know a lot more about flight then me and the people that have reacted so far.
Cool stuff.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
You have obviosly never ridden a motorcycle fast. Most any sport bike has such short rake and trail that if you let go of the bars at speed it will begin to head woble immidietly. Infact even with your hands on the bars they would head wobble immidiatly without the use of a stearing damper.
I think what you arent' considering is the massive gyroscopic effect the turbine will produce. given the size of the engine to the size of the craft in this case the gyro scopic effect of the turbine engine will probably add significantly to the crafts stability