AirTalk.org Aviation discussions newsgroups   Archives   FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer          AirTalk.org Forum Index -> Aircraft Design & Building View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message John Kunkel Guest Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 10:39 pm    Post subject: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt Rutan and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of plywood and tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with the correct AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines, truth or myth? Back to top Steve Foley Guest Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 1:00 am    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer "John Kunkel" <nobody (AT) nowhere (DOT) net> wrote in message news:XYadnVGRbdlj8qbbnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d (AT) comcast (DOT) com... Quote: Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt Rutan and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of plywood and tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with the correct AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines, truth or myth? I've never seen that one, but I believe that theory was confirmed with the video of the flying lawnmower. Back to top Morgans Guest Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 1:23 am    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer "Steve Foley" <steve.foley (AT) att (DOT) DELETE.net> wrote in message news:phM_h.413813$5j1.237229@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... Quote: "John Kunkel" <nobody (AT) nowhere (DOT) net> wrote in message news:XYadnVGRbdlj8qbbnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d (AT) comcast (DOT) com... Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt Rutan and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of plywood and tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with the correct AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines, truth or myth? I've never seen that one, but I believe that theory was confirmed with the video of the flying lawnmower. Actually, the flying lawnmower has a real wing airfoil, buried under the profile. A flying stop sign is a valid example, though. It is truly a flat sheet of foam board, with control surfaces and an engine. -- Jim in NC Back to top Dan Guest Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:11 am    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer Morgans wrote: Quote: "Steve Foley" <steve.foley (AT) att (DOT) DELETE.net> wrote in message news:phM_h.413813$5j1.237229@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... "John Kunkel" <nobody (AT) nowhere (DOT) net> wrote in message news:XYadnVGRbdlj8qbbnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d (AT) comcast (DOT) com... Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt Rutan and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of plywood and tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with the correct AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines, truth or myth? I've never seen that one, but I believe that theory was confirmed with the video of the flying lawnmower. Actually, the flying lawnmower has a real wing airfoil, buried under the profile. A flying stop sign is a valid example, though. It is truly a flat sheet of foam board, with control surfaces and an engine. I liked the flying Snoopy on his dog house. I can't remember who made it. Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired Back to top Morgans Guest Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:11 am    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer "Dan" <B2431 (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote Quote: I liked the flying Snoopy on his dog house. I can't remember who made it. How about this link, for starters? <http://www.flyingthingz.com/products/doghouse.html> -- Jim in NC Back to top Dan Guest Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 8:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer Morgans wrote: Quote: "Dan" <B2431 (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote I liked the flying Snoopy on his dog house. I can't remember who made it. How about this link, for starters? http://www.flyingthingz.com/products/doghouse.html Close, but still nice. Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired Back to top COLIN LAMB Guest Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 6:11 am    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer A few weeks ago, my friend (a pilot also) stepped onto a piece of plywood laying on his sloping roof. He then flew the plywood down to the ground. It did not fly very well. He broke his heelbone. I think that no matter how big an engine you put on a piece of plywood, it will not fly very well. Colin Back to top Morgans Guest Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 6:11 am    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer "COLIN LAMB" <> wrote Quote: I think that no matter how big an engine you put on a piece of plywood, it will not fly very well. He's damn lucky all he broke was his heel. It all is in the power to weight ratio, AND the weight to wing area, and to a degree the aspect ratio. Of course, there are helicopters, too. Your friend's problem was that he did not have ANY engine! <g> -- Jim in NC Back to top Peter Dohm Guest Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:11 am    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer "Morgans" <jsmorgan (AT) charterJUNK (DOT) net> wrote in message news:urR1i.695$lq2.593 (AT) newsfe04 (DOT) lga... Quote: "COLIN LAMB" <> wrote I think that no matter how big an engine you put on a piece of plywood, it will not fly very well. He's damn lucky all he broke was his heel. It all is in the power to weight ratio, AND the weight to wing area, and to a degree the aspect ratio. Of course, there are helicopters, too. Your friend's problem was that he did not have ANY engine! <g -- Jim in NC This reminds me that a friend, who is an Air Force veteran, told me that helicopters can not actually fly--they are just so damned ugly that the earth repels them! That's his story and he's stickin' to it. Peter Back to top Guest Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 6:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Rutan Rontz Plywood Flyer On May 4, 5:39 pm, "John Kunkel" <nob...@nowhere.net> wrote: Quote: Somewhere in my aged memory cells I seem to recall a story about Burt Rutan and John Rontz collaberating to mount an engine on a sheet of plywood and tether "flying" it to illustrate that anything will fly with the correct AOA. I'm not finding any references on the search engines, truth or myth? If you're going to tether it, why bother with the plywood? Just suspend at least one tether from above so that the prop can't strike the ground, duct tape the proverbial brick to the engine, and fly away. -- FF Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         AirTalk.org Forum Index -> Aircraft Design & Building All times are GMT Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum Aviation----------------alt.aviationAviation safety EnhancementPlanes, gliders and flying in AustraliaAviation et pilotage (Français)rec.aviationAviation (Aerobatics)Hot air, gas balloons and airshipsHang-gliding, paragliding, foot-launched flightAircraft Design & BuildingInstrument Flight RulesAviation (Classifieds)Military AircraftNaval AviationAviation (Miscellaneous Topics)Owning AirplanesAviators (General Discussions)Aviation related productsAircraft RestorationHelicopters and rotary wing aircraftsFlight SimulationSailplanesAviation (Students)Light aircraftFlying related activities in the UK Airports----------------alt.airportsEdinburgh Airport Glasgow Airport Humberside Airport Luton Airport Aberdeen Airport Glasgow Prestwick Airport  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2006 phpBB Group SEO toolkit © 2004-2006 webmedic.