On Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:38:58 -0700 (PDT), "miso@sushi.com"
<miso@sushi.com> wrote:

On Jul 22, 10:21 am, Gosh Darn <stealth...@iglou.com> wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:22:49 -0700 (PDT), "m...@sushi.com"

<m...@sushi.com> wrote:

On Jul 21, 11:25 am, Gosh Darn <stealth...@iglou.com> wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41KnccA6T7Y&feature=channel

        I wonder how they get the fly by wire computer in
such a small plane, the scale speed must be way over
1000 mph, and reaction time must be quick.

        Just how unstable was the real thing?

What makes you think the model plane itself is anything special, other
than looking cool. I'm sure the controls are conventional. Model
aircraft are designed with care regarding the center of gravity,
stability, etc. It isn't like modern fighter aircraft that are
unstable without an electronic control system.

        Actually they are designed to be unstable so that
they can perform better.     Earlier aircraft had dihedral
for roll stability, the F-117 could have had it, but they
probably wanted to have as few surfaces facing different
directions as possible.

The real thing was probably very unstable without electronics. My
recollection is every fighter from the F16 onward has been unstable
without electronics.

        I think I read that, which is one of the reasons
I wonder why it was even mentioned the F-117 was
unstable and got the nickname.

       On WWII aircraft there was adjustments on the
tabs on the control surfaces, and if they and the
trim knobs were set right, the plane would fly
level without holding the stick.

       I only saw one F-117 on the ground at an
air show about 10 years ago, it was in a hanger
and I couldn't see any features at all with the
black paint.

I think the security around the F117 at air shows was ...well...for
show. What they don't want photographed is the back of the B2. I've
had media passes for Edwards a few times and they always instruct the
photographers not to shoot the back of the B2 on the ground, i.e. as
it taxis. At air shows, they park the B2 with the back towards a
secure area.

One really annoying restriction for media at Edwards is no photography
of south base. Now south base is where the directed energy work is
done, but that is also where they store the old planes waiting for
restoration. As you drive by the back, you can see the large vacuum
tank they use to replicate the atmospheric pressure at the altitude
the ABL is operated. You can also see the cabin of an aircraft poking
out the building, which I presume is to replicate the ABL. It looks
like somebody screwed up and the plane shot out the sheet metal.

34°54'0.11"N 117°52'32.88"W

I"m not sure the plane is there anymore, but the imagery now is simply
amazing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:070314-F-9999M-477.jpg