Chapter 960 Inverted Gull-Shaped Wing
The researchers started talking at once:
"This is an unsolvable problem. We only have two options: use materials with high specific strength or lower the requirements."
"Yes, we can reduce the dive speed, although this will reduce accuracy, but we have no choice but to do so."
"The error could double to around 60 meters."
Others say:
"It seems that we have little need for this bomber right now. We already have enough aircraft to control the battlefield."
"Yes, fighters gain air superiority and horizontal bombers destroy targets."
"All a horizontal bomber needs is a matter of bombs."
…
Ciel said nothing. Neither of the two options the researcher suggested satisfied him.
The error is 60 meters.
If the target of the bombing is a bridge, railway, or even a warship in the future, the error will definitely not be enough.
Not developing dive bombers?
Charles was able to control Britain and the United States, especially the United States, the world's largest industrial power, because of its air technology advantage.
So it must develop, no matter how difficult it is or how much money it requires.
Charles wondered how the Germans had done it in history.
Did they use expensive titanium alloy on the Stuka?
Or lower the accuracy requirement?
It is unlikely. It is said that more than 6,000 "Stuka" models were produced in total, and their performance was quite good, making them a classic of their generation.
So there must be a way, I just forgot something.
Charles stared at the picture of the prototype on the workbench for a while, and finally found something inconsistent.
"Its nose gear appears to be raised," said Charles.
"Yes." Dorn pointed to the design and explained:
"To get more speed, we increased the length of the propeller."
"But this could cause the propeller to collide with the ground when the plane lands."
"To avoid this, we had to lengthen the nose landing gear."
(The picture above shows a "Camel" fighter, which has a long and large propeller in front of its nose. In order to prevent it from colliding with the ground when landing, the front landing gear must be raised to make the nose stand tall)
Ciel pointed to the landing gear and asked, "So, does its length affect the force on the wing?"
"Of course." Dorn answered with certainty:
"During a high-speed dive, the drag on the landing gear acts directly on the wing."
“A longer landing gear means a longer moment arm, which means a greater impact on the wing.”
Then Charles knew how to change it.
"Shorten the landing gear." Charles said calmly and firmly.
Dorn was stunned:
"But we can't do that, Admiral."
"As we said, once you shorten the landing gear, it increases the landing risk."
"A propeller hitting the ground is no better than a broken wing..."
Ciel interrupted Dorn: "What if the landing gear is shortened without the propeller hitting the ground?"
"This, this is impossible." Dorn spread his hands. How could there be such a good thing that could have the best of both worlds?
Other researchers also think it is unrealistic, or even a fantasy.
Charles calmly picked up the pen and made two changes to the wings of the prototype on the design drawing: "As long as we change the model to this shape, we can shorten the front landing gear without affecting the propeller."
(The picture above shows an inverted gull-wing aircraft. Because of the inverted gull shape on the wing, the front landing gear can be shortened while keeping the nose at the same height and not hitting the ground.)
Dorn understood instantly. He looked up at Ciel and was incoherent with shock:
"This, this is great, Lieutenant General."
"You might solve this problem once and for all."
"I mean, it's not just shortening the landing gear to reduce the forces on the wing, but the shape also reduces the forces on the wing when you recover from a dive."
The researchers were skeptical and came over to take a look. Then they were surprised and delighted:
"God, what a clever way."
"Yes. It does not require any changes to the material or lowering of requirements. It can significantly reduce the force on the wing when recovering from a dive."
"Thank you, Lieutenant General. You are amazing. This plan should be feasible. You have solved a big problem for us."
Some people even cheered and applauded Charles.
Charles was a little confused. He just recalled that this inverted gull-shaped wing was used to shorten the landing gear. How did it "solve the problem"?
Later I thought about it and understood it.
If the wing is straight, the sudden increase in force when recovering from a dive can easily break the straight wing.
However, if the wing is "V" shaped, when the aircraft recovers from a dive, the force direction on the root of the wing will change to pushing up against the fuselage instead of being broken.
Only then did Charles fully understand why so many aircraft used this inverted gull wing during World War II.
Before, he had always thought that this was just a design for aesthetics or to make the flight smoother.
Later, Charles learned that this inverted gull wing design not only has these advantages, but it can also enhance wing rigidity and reduce vibration during dives, making it almost tailor-made for dive bombers.
(The two pictures above are of the Stuka bomber, which also has an inverted gull wing design)
The more Dorn saw it, the more he felt it was right. He hugged Charles excitedly and said, "You are simply a genius, Lieutenant General. I really should keep you in the institute. Would you consider it? I am serious!"
The researchers laughed.
Dawn was indeed serious, but they both knew it was impossible.
If they leave Charles here today, the army will come to snatch him away tomorrow.
"Come on, gentlemen." Ciel patted Dorn on the shoulder. "Your task is arduous. I mean, it may be much heavier than you think."
Dawn asked cautiously, "For example..."
"You should be able to guess it." Charles smiled without saying anything.
Dorn nodded, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes:
"Okay! Today it's a bomber, tomorrow it'll be a fighter."
"Of course, all-metal fighters will replace wooden fighters. Am I right, Vice Admiral?"
Ciel said "hmm", "Yes, but it's not quite right."
"What?" Dorn was puzzled. He didn't understand what he had missed.
Charles gave the answer:
"We may also need a ground-attack aircraft, Dorn."
"I mean a dedicated ground attack aircraft."
"Use machine guns to strafe infantry, or use large-caliber machine guns to attack tanks."
Dorn tapped his finger in the air, and after a moment he said, "It's the speed, isn't it? There's a contradiction in speed."
Ciel nodded.
I secretly praised in my heart that Dorn's level has reached another level.
Fighter jets can also complete strafing operations with machine guns on infantry or with machine guns on tanks.
But fighter jets require the fastest possible speed in order to maintain an advantage in air combat.
Ground attack aircraft, however, must maintain a low speed so that the pilot has sufficient reaction time to hit the target.
(End of this chapter)
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