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Air Force Lab Test Out "Aircraft Surfing" Technique To Save Fuel
coondoggie writes "It's not a totally new concept, but the Air Force is testing the idea of flying gas-guzzling cargo aircraft inline allowing the trailing aircraft to utilize the cyclonic energy coming off the lead plane — a concept known as vortex surfing — over long distances to save large amounts of fuel. According to an Air force release, a series of recent test flights involving two aircraft at a time, let the trailing aircraft surf the vortex of the lead aircraft, positioning itself in the updraft to get additional lift without burning extra fuel."
I see folks at the DoD have been watching Mythbusters. As well they should.
Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
Drafting is also used in racing leagues that turn right and have drivers and fans educated enough to read.
OTOH, nature already provides a perfect example: Geese have been doing it for literal ages and likely for the same reason (though instead of burning excess liquid fuel, it keeps them from being tired).
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
I think it is learned behaviour of not flying in the poop-stream of the bird directly in front of you.
racing leagues that turn right and have drivers and fans educated enough to read.
Q) What has two hundred legs and twelve teeth?
A) The front row at a Willie Nelson concert.
...not jetwash. Jetwash is the turbulent stream of air behind a jet coming from out of the back of the engines. That is mostly dangerous while on the ground, when there is a small, light aircraft sitting behind the jet.
Wake Turbulence comes off the wingtips of *all* airplanes in flight, while the wing is generating lift. It's like horizontal tornadoes spinning off the wingtips. It can flip another airplane upside down Lots of pictures of what it looks like here.
I almost got rolled 90 degrees on short final while landing at EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, WI a few years ago landing behind a P-51 Mustang. I was in a Van's RV-8, which fortunately is very aerobatic and has a quick roll rate. It took full right stick to get the aircraft rightside up again and the whole event was over in a split second, and I landed normally. but with quite the adrenalin dump flowing in my bloodstream, and almost experienced a brown smelly dump flowing in my pants! As soon as I touched down, the tower controller said, "Nice job RV.... Uh, sorry bout that..... (sheepishly) Uh, caution wake turbulence?"