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Re: refutation of the scoop theory, revisited



At 15:55 8/22/99 -0500 Dave Anderson wrote:
Read our article. We discuss ground effect.
http://www.aa.washington.edu/courses/aa101/lift.htm>

David Anderson
dfa@fnal.gov

I did. I think the scoop approach mentioned there, makes for
a very attractive introductory approach for pilots etc.
It ignores span wise flow, and I find the explanation for
ground effects not completely satisfactory.

Meanwhile, John Denker's approach seems grounded in the aero
engineer's recipe for working lift and drag issues, which has
undoubtedly been extremely successful, in pragmatic and
commercial terms. He discusses aspect ratio, tip effects etc,
more insightfully ( in my view) and has a better handle on
leading edge upflow. Never the less, his thoughts on ground reaction
to lift force have raised some degree of opposition from people
who have no great axes to grind in this area.

I mention my views not in any judgmental sense, but to wonder
at the amount of heat that has been generated on a topic where
all proponents seem to agree that Bernoulli and Newton have
contributions to make.

I can at least take comfort in the idea that all parties to
the conceptual conflict will give my notes
the same consideration that any holder of deeply
held scientific beliefs could be expected to confer on a person
offering observations which set out to be directed to the spirit!

(or vice versa: spiritual,scientific) :-)




brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK