Bizarre Donut Connundrum

[Airpiraterob]

wich donut (by type and manufacturer) has the best coefficient of drag? i would assume that glazed would most likely however if theres any sprinkles the parasitic drag would climb way off the chart. also the issue of the long john donuts or even the donut holes could beat the frontal area issue. would cake make a diference? and what would the Vne be? (theres probably a freight pilot thatll be willing to try this out his small window)

 

[Typhoon1244]

[Which] donut...has the best coefficient of drag? I would assume that glazed would most likely however if [there are] any sprinkles the parasitic drag would climb way off the chart...

...particularly if those sprinkles were of the shaved-coconut variety. It'd be like carrying a load of rime ice.

In any case, I'd guess that donut holes, eclaires, and creme- or jelly-filled donuts have the least drag. Of course, with eclaires, you run into all kinds of stability problems...

(This reply demonstrates what having a newborn waking you up every two hours will do to you.)

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

I think you should be OK as long as you don't go supersonic with it, as it will melt the icing, thus exposing the rather porous surface, further degrading lift.
Speaking of lift, seems to me, there would be a tremendous amount of induced drag due to the shape of the donut itselft (unless some sort of a winglet is attached).
I've got to agree on the shaved coconut comment, there would be a tremendous amount of lift killing swirlling going on if it was present, very much like frost.

 

[Booker]

Sprinkles

Unless the energization of the boundary layer reduces viscous drag enough to offset the increased form drag. Fuzz on a tennis ball, right? You could even make 'em fly curved paths thanks to magnus effect.

Finally, someone brings up a relevant topic - thanks!

B

 

[bunnyfufu]

actually, i think a glazed donut would be able to go faster than a regular donut. the idea was proven with the second X-15:

The X-15A-2 had been modified from its original configuration with a longer fuselage and drop tanks. To protect it against aerodynamic heating, researchers had coated it with an ablative coating covered by a layer of white paint. These changes allowed the X-15A-2 to reach a maximum speed of Mach 6.7, although it could be sustained for only a brief period.

 

[Airpiraterob]

ah true, however that glaze would be ablative in nature and the donut would be able to endure faster speeds for only short periods of time. perfect until its jelly fueled rocket is empty. i would propose a lifting body shaped donut might do very well between the donut coefficient of drag (Dcd) and Donut lift (Dcl). would that be a apple turnover? or some sort of fritter? that might require a departure from the donut design all together into something entirely freakish like a....like....like a deviled egg. or a twice cooked potato. thats not the aim of the question tho. My bet i think would have to be a Dolly Madison chocolate donnett. you know the small ones in the wrapped sleeves found at corner stores? The chocolate is smooth, and the frontal area is small. not much parasitic drag, but the ablative chocolate would work well for short high speed durations. disadvantage? no jelly powered rocket.

the search continues

 

[MetroSheriff]

no jelly powered rocket.

the search continues

I thought that is what the little hole in the side of the jelly donut was for.

Jelly-burners???

That leads me to an interesting poll.

Do you spell it DONUT or DOUGHNUT


I vote for DONUT. but that's only 'cause I'm not to bright and it has less letters.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

Well, in that case, can Lockheed Martin and Boeing be likened to Dunkin Donuts and Crispy Kremes? And is Horton's an equivalent to DeHaviland Canada?

 

[Booker]

Do you spell it DONUT or DOUGHNUT

Webster lists both as valid spellings. However, it states "donut" is a variant of "doughnut," but not vice-versa. So take your pick, but go with "doughnut" if you're a traditionalist.

B

 

[Airpiraterob]

heh...Hortons is the DeHavilland of canada....heh heh. oh man thats funny. are they cheaper than the other do(ugh)nuts?

And what do(ugh)nut would be the equivalent to Scaled Composites? would that be one heavily laced with additives and artificial components or just superengineered? how would this make it better to other do(ugh)nuts?

i used to airlift Krispy Kremes on my contract UPS route from BUF cause where i was, the people have never heard of the
KKD(-nasdaq) chronic. so i let them have one and they were hooked. so then i should have started charging for it on the playground. if i charged what it cost it would be $100 a do(ugh)nut each. but some of them were starting to consider opening one across from DD.

 

[JediNein]

The best distance I ever got out of a jelly donut was 3 feet.

Here's how I got it:
1. Place stale donut on ground.
2. Look both ways.
3. STOMP!


Jelly does go further than cream.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[Typhoon1244]

...a lifting body shaped donut...

That'd be a scone.

 

[MetroSheriff]

That'd be a scone.

Actually, a scone would be a lifting body shaped muffin.

I don't beleive that a scone falls in the same genus or phylum as a donut.

You are allowed to pretend that a scone is healthy, hereas a donut is always classified as a junk food.

 

[Eric]

Although it is not a donut, I believe a croissant would allow a higher mach # due to its swept nature.

 

[Typhoon1244]

Actually, a scone would be a lifting body shaped muffin. I don't beleive that a scone falls in the same genus or phylum as a donut.

Touche. Hey, I'm from the East Coast...we did bagels, not scones.

(A bagel, of course, is a doughnut with a higher gross weight...a Donut-ER, if you will.)

I believe a croissant would allow a higher mach number due to its swept nature.

Also, a croissant is a variable-geometry design, which gives you all sorts of aerodynamic flexibility. I suspect that no pastry could sustain higher cruise speeds, yet land in smaller boxes than the swing-wing croissant.

Too bad their French...

 

[crash-proof]

Also, a croissant is a variable-geometry design, which gives you all sorts of aerodynamic flexibility. I suspect that no pastry could sustain higher cruise speeds, yet land in smaller boxes than the swing-wing croissant.

Too bad their French...

Yes, well then by default the pastries are Airbus and Croissants are Falcons, oui?

 

[cessna_driver2]

Touche. Hey, I'm from the East Coast...we did bagels, not scones.

(A bagel, of course, is a doughnut with a higher gross weight...a Donut-ER, if you will.)

Also, a croissant is a variable-geometry design, which gives you all sorts of aerodynamic flexibility. I suspect that no pastry could sustain higher cruise speeds, yet land in smaller boxes than the swing-wing croissant.

Too bad their French...

Oh but would the crussant have similar flight characteristics of the X-29. Of course it may need back up computers to keep it stabile in flight. But overall a very effeicent design.