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7/4/2025, 2:36:20 AM
>>105788797
Not really, but they're less stable and slower than conventionally-shaped aircraft.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_VZ-9_Avrocar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_Cypher
It's not even a problem of "omg the tech isnt there to stabilize it" -- they could be gotten stable; it's just not a very good design for most applications.
Open rotors like on a helicopter are lighter and easier to control and have some later-discovered features that make them superior to ducted fans in general use (autorotation mostly; when the helo is in motion the rotors even if unpowered provide enough lift to glide somewhat; a ducted fan blocks airflow so this doesnt happen and you need to rely on wings for lift)
for planes and other zoomy aircraft, it's easier to mount the fan/jet/prop/screw/etc in the direction of travel and use wings to keep it aloft. If it has to take off in a very short space, it's been found that it's easier to just tilt the whole goddamn propulsion system (like an F35, Harrier, or even the Osprey aka Marine Killer 9000)
And finaly, just in terms of simply being Fucking Cool... People don't care as much about aliens anymore, and the typical "alien space craft" design has gone away from the classic saucer design to more angular nonsense.
Even if there's memey unhinged schizo technology out there, it would be better served driving conventionally-shaped aircraft because at the end of the day they still have to operate in atmosphere and Unobtanium Drives are cool and all but lift from air passing over wings is literally free once you start moving.
Not really, but they're less stable and slower than conventionally-shaped aircraft.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_VZ-9_Avrocar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_Cypher
It's not even a problem of "omg the tech isnt there to stabilize it" -- they could be gotten stable; it's just not a very good design for most applications.
Open rotors like on a helicopter are lighter and easier to control and have some later-discovered features that make them superior to ducted fans in general use (autorotation mostly; when the helo is in motion the rotors even if unpowered provide enough lift to glide somewhat; a ducted fan blocks airflow so this doesnt happen and you need to rely on wings for lift)
for planes and other zoomy aircraft, it's easier to mount the fan/jet/prop/screw/etc in the direction of travel and use wings to keep it aloft. If it has to take off in a very short space, it's been found that it's easier to just tilt the whole goddamn propulsion system (like an F35, Harrier, or even the Osprey aka Marine Killer 9000)
And finaly, just in terms of simply being Fucking Cool... People don't care as much about aliens anymore, and the typical "alien space craft" design has gone away from the classic saucer design to more angular nonsense.
Even if there's memey unhinged schizo technology out there, it would be better served driving conventionally-shaped aircraft because at the end of the day they still have to operate in atmosphere and Unobtanium Drives are cool and all but lift from air passing over wings is literally free once you start moving.
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