If Roper thinks F1 has more complex aero than aircraft development, then that man is an idiot.
Why Will Roper still believes the Pentagon should work more like Formula One - Breaking Defense
“Formula One is amazingly complex from an aerodynamic perspective. And in my opinion, it's more complex than what we do in aviation,” said Will Roper, the Air Force’s former acquisition chief.breakingdefense.com
all one can say is the tall t--d in the tent IMHO is still more and more money being spent on geared turbofans w/ diminishing returns in performance. ere needs to be an entirely new look at options w/ no shaft and no gears such as the nested core turbine. City hall doesnt like that is the product of one guy so NCT goes nowhere, but so these turbo fans cost more with less and less return.
The context:
I think what he's saying is that F1 does aerodynamics in a more complex way than aviation, not necessarily that F1 aerodynamics itself is more complex.
It is definitely not a cheap or limited people model to follow. Maybe "AI" will do it?
Very much this.
I think he's talking about using an F1 type approach to everything, sensors, software, weapons, all of it. Not trying to eke out every fraction of a percent of performance; rather using the model of F1 as a guideline to speed up development of new aircraft and the modernization of existing ones.
T-7 wasn't quick though if you compare to other aircraft? Computers have slowed down development if anything, but allow for some risks to be reduced earlier so there is more confidence that the final thing will work.
I dunno, some of the tricks they've pulled are pretty fascinating. Like designing in enough flex to get the front wings closer to the ground where they are more effective (since banned) when at track speeds.
Your statement is simply not true. First of all F1 is constraint by technical regulations book. A flavor of what is possible deliver RedBull X1 concept.
That's aeroelasticity and was first demonstrated in the aerospace industry decades ago.
Back then F1 was still using active aero and ground-effect, which are more effective, because they hadn't been banned yet.
This was also decades ago, 2002 IIRC. This was after active aero was banned. "We can't help it if the wing flexes down closer to the ground at speed and therefore becomes more effective!"
F1 was not allowed to use Ground Effect until the 2021 or 22 season. Only Indy ran open wheel cars with ground effect ducts.
Exploiting ground effect to increase downforce was first attempted in F1. F1 engineer Tony Rudd pioneered the concept at BRM in the early 1970s and moved to Lotus to begin working with Colin Chapman on advanced designs. Mario Andretti won the 1978 World Championship driving the Lotus 79 skirted venturi car.
That was one factor, yes, but even when they built a turbo V-6 for the (non-skirted) 126 series, it was kind of a pig. Took them a couple of iterations for it to come good, and by then the McLaren-TAG/Porsche steamroller was underway.
F1 was using ground effect back in the 1980s and 1990s, it was banned after Senna died due to grounding out on a high speed corner. Even Group C was using it back then.
F1 was using wings, not the venturi diffuser ducts under the body. Those were banned in the early 1980s for F1.
Circa 1970, a couple of CanAm race cars were built with variable down-force. One used a variable incidence wing to increase down-force during turns while the other used hovercraft style fans to suck the car downwards during turns. CanAm’s bleeding edge technology eventually grew too expensive especially after the first Arab Oil Crisi of the early 1980s.
Both of those had enclosed wheels.
CanAm: Chaparral in 1970, F1: Brabham in 1978.
That's actually correct, '82 it seems.
Actually it works. You just need to compare apples with apples - in this case F1 model is equal to Skunk Works, Scaled Composites and other special projects divisions.
Don't forget NG Advanced Programs (does include Scaled) I agree, we need to streamline aircraft development, too much red tape, scope creep, etc. The new JDAM variant will deliver reams of program paper, the enemy becomes incapacitated by severe paper cuts.
Please note that the JDAM JSDS (Joint Specification Delivery System) has not been cleared for release at the "Burn Before Reading" classification or below. Further discussion will be considered to be a violation and will result in your being voluntold/designated as Security Monitor (with duties thereunto including shredder oiling, combo lock maintenance and security container inspection and signoff) until further notice.
