Boeing YC-14 and Antonov An-72, two aircraft built around the Coandă effect, the tendency of a fluid jet to stay attached to a convex surface, in practice meaning that the jet wash of the engines stuck to the wings, giving dramatic increases in lifting performance and therefore allowing for these designs to be the perfect short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft.
Only the soviet aircraft would go into production, while the American prototype, intended to replace the C-130 Hercules, was cancelled.
Having the engine inlets that high up would reduce debris intake. A bonus on undeveloped landing fields.
ReplyDeleteBut can it burn rubbah?
ReplyDeleteno thrust reversers. high speed airflow above the wing enhanced low speed lift but led to metal fatigue in the skin and many many rivets getting pulled out. neat idea, though.
ReplyDeleteOnly 3 things will survive the worst case, cockroaches, Schwinn Varsity bikes, and the C-130.
ReplyDelete