Help w/research paper!

[outdoorsguy]

I need to choose a airplane that has a particular design feature that is notably different from others of the same period. The feature can be a aerodynamic feature, a stability and contol feature, a performance feature, or any other identfiable feature that is unique. The paper can be anywhere from 4-7 pages...so I need to be able to get some research from more than one source.

Any Ideas????

 

[Learsforsale]

I need to choose a airplane that has a particular design feature that is notably different from others of the same period. The feature can be a aerodynamic feature, a stability and contol feature, a performance feature, or any other identfiable feature that is unique. The paper can be anywhere from 4-7 pages...so I need to be able to get some research from more than one source.

Any Ideas????

Piaggio 180 comes to mind, or anything by Burt Rutan.

 

[Alex429595]

Piper Tomahawk Maybe?

Learjets have been known to perform better than comparable corporate jets.

 

[hydroflyer]

Beech Starship? Composite, canard, pusher props, early glass cockpit.

 

[VNugget]

He-178, first turbojet
DM-1, first delta wing
N-1M, early flying wing
X-15, rocket plane
U-2, high altitude
SR-71, high speed, gee-whiz hybrid ramjet engine

Just for starters. Plenty of other firsts and one-off experimental planes, as well as examples of production planes fitted with experimental systems, like fly-by-wire testbeds. Are those acceptable, or are they looking for planes that went into production as-is with their unusual-for-their-time features?

 

[A Squared]

How about the Helio Courier:

Automatically extending leading edge slats, spoiler assisted roll control. All quite revolutionary for a GA airplane at the time. Still fairly unique, even today

 

[epic!]

how about that irianian flying boat thing

 

[AirBadger]

Ercoupes might be cool. Interconnected yoke/rudder for easy crosswinds, canted engine for reduced p-factor, almost impossible to stall, I imagine in the 40s or whenever it came out those were pretty significant advances in improving safety.

 

[EMB Skillz]

how about that irianian flying boat thing

He said "airplane", magic flying carpets don't count.

outdoorsguy:

This whole thread is B.S., pick up a book and get off the computer, lazy bum. Go do your own homework.

 

[whaleroast]

He said "airplane", magic flying carpets don't count.

Unless it's got a nuke strapped to it.

 

[DrewBlows]

How about the Cirrus parachute system. Cirrus has sold a lot of airplanes due in no small part to the chute and it's saved a hand-full of lives. Many ultralights had a parachute system before the Cirrus, but Cirrus took the design feature to the mainstream.

The flight manuals are online and would provide a lot of infomation. Find a couple of article on the history of the parachute and you've got a paper.

http://www.cirrusdesign.com/serviceandupgrades/pilotoperators/

 

[81Horse]

The classic V-tail Bonanza, man.

 

[Ill Mitch]

Ercoupes might be cool.

But they are not.

 

[frog_flyer]

whatever was first to do fly by wire...

was it the su27?

 

[VNugget]

No, various forms of FBW were played around with as far back as the 40s, first fitted to the Avro Vulcan I think. Not sure if they were all like that, or only experimented with in a few planes as a test bed.

 

[aucfi]

The classic V-tail Bonanza, man.

Beat me to it.

 

[Vector4fun]

I need to choose a airplane that has a particular design feature that is notably different from others of the same period. The feature can be a aerodynamic feature, a stability and contol feature, a performance feature, or ...

Any Ideas????

Lockheed Tristar DLC system; elements of all three above. 30 minutes of Googling ought to get you the info...

 

[PC12Cowboy]

Hmmm maybe the most prolific trainer ever..and cutting edge some 50 years ago..when everything else had a tail wheel...it is......drum roll...the Cessna 172

 

[Captn]

Another Idea

 

[woofer_77]

He said "airplane", magic flying carpets don't count.

outdoorsguy:

This whole thread is B.S., pick up a book and get off the computer, lazy bum. Go do your own homework.

He just asked for suggestions. I see nothing wrong with that. It's not like he wants us to write the paper. Once he gets a good idea, then he can do the research and the paper.

As far as my suggestion, how about the first flying wing. Unfortunately, I don't remember the designation off the top of my head.