Rutan does a bug... canards anyone?

[Dave Adamisin]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110506164319.htm

[PJ Rowland]

A link to another story/article from the above mentioned link proved for some interesting reading :

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090629200836.htm


It could prove to be one of the defining design changes for stunt aircraft of the last 60 years.... read on :

New University of Washington research using high-speed digital imaging shows that, at least for some insects, wings that flex and deform, something like what happens to a heavy beach towel when you snap it to get rid of the sand, are the best for staying aloft.

"The evidence indicates that flexible wings are producing profoundly different air flows than stiff wings, and those flows appear to be more beneficial for generating lift," said Andrew Mountcastle, a UW doctoral student in biology


Amazing...... So throw away your carbon torque tubes and foam wings, start working on your new Electric flexy wing world beater. 

[Dave Adamisin]

That's the spirit PJ...

[Steven Kientz]

Throw away the electric and go with rubber power, plenty of torque. No prop, just make the wings flex.

Steve

[PJ Rowland]

I've thought about rubber power, the issue has been constant torque as the rubber band expells.