Why ask small when you can ask for the impossible ?

[JohnGay]

Speaking of ridiculous aircraft, has anyone heard that Microsoft's Paul Allen is trying to turn himself into a modern-day Howard Hughes?
Apparently he's built "The World's Largest Airplane" in the middle of the desert.
Guess he didn't want to build his on water?

[airdave]

Originally Posted by JohnGay

Speaking of ridiculous aircraft, has anyone heard that Microsoft's Paul Allen is trying to turn himself into a modern-day Howard Hughes?
Apparently he's built "The World's Largest Airplane" in the middle of the desert.
Guess he didn't want to build his on water?

This plane is like a bigger version of the Virgin White Knight.
Intended to be a carry/launch vehicle for a smaller space vehicle.
But being a lot larger, it can launch a bigger space vehicle than Virgin's Spaceship one?
I think they want to use to put satellite rockets up?

What I can't figure is why the tails aren't connected.
The aircraft is two fuselages joined by a central wing.
Just like the twin P51 Mustang.
But being so long and large, wouldn't it make sense to connect the tails too?
Whats to stop some wild twisting and flexing?

[GaryPilsworth]

Originally Posted by JohnGay

Speaking of ridiculous aircraft, has anyone heard that Microsoft's Paul Allen is trying to turn himself into a modern-day Howard Hughes?
Apparently he's built "The World's Largest Airplane" in the middle of the desert.
Guess he didn't want to build his on water?

Do ya mean this one

[murphyaa]

Originally Posted by airdave

This plane is like a bigger version of the Virgin White Knight.
Intended to be a carry/launch vehicle for a smaller space vehicle.
But being a lot larger, it can launch a bigger space vehicle than Virgin's Spaceship one?
I think they want to use to put satellite rockets up?

What I can't figure is why the tails aren't connected.
The aircraft is two fuselages joined by a central wing.
Just like the twin P51 Mustang.
But being so long and large, wouldn't it make sense to connect the tails too?
Whats to stop some wild twisting and flexing?

I can only think of 3 reasons they didn't connect the tail: 1) Planning for larger loads that might extend past the tail. 2)They really trust that the wing spar and connection points are strong enough to resist twisting. 3) Oops?

[Wulf111]

4) igniting the engines on the drop vehicle could burn up the tail?

[airdave]

You can see the horizontal tail is much higher than any payload,
plus its way way back there.

And any rocket would be dropped well clear of the aircraft before igniting engines and launching.

Wouldn't a connected tail offer more lift too? and/or more elevator control?
I'm no aircraft designer, but it really seems like a no-brainer?! lol

[sprogs]

Am I wrong here or would the twisting loads be outrageous if an engine failed?
Why not put the tail up front where it's supposed to be, put the engines on top of the tail in a nice neat row and leave the wing completely clean ?
Liz

[zubie]

Originally Posted by murphyaa

I can only think of 3 reasons they didn't connect the tail: 1) Planning for larger loads that might extend past the tail. 2)They really trust that the wing spar and connection points are strong enough to resist twisting. 3) Oops?

Consider the difference from a very slight twisting angle at the wing root. A 1 degree differential would result in over a half meter (>1.5') displacement at 35m, about half the craft's length ( 2*sin(.5deg)*35m ~ .61m,...I think I got the math right ). I'm sure you could engineer for it, but maybe it's just easier not to deal with it.