A number of advancements in the aerospace industry can be brought together in a single design to create an ultra-high-performance craft. In order to understand this we must first look at the precedents that have been set. Initial and practical research in all the following fields is what will allow this to happen. All the advancements covered here are of structural nature. All other components and systems can be had off the shelf to the standards required.

Geodetic Airframes

Geodetic airframes are much the same as a “geodetic dome” seen in bio-domes and the like. It is, in its simplest form, a geometric structure ideally built from triangles that will allow the forces of flight to be distributed evenly across the aircraft.

This does not mean that other standard parts of airframes will not be included.

Flying Wings

The Horten Ho 229 was the culmination of six or seven planes worth of research and testing. It began as a foot launched unpowered glider and ended as a contestant for Germany’s 1000 kilo payload , 1000 kilometer range, 1000kph bomber. What makes it special is not its means of construction or how it was powered. The craft was said to be very stable with very friendly flying characteristics. I am not qualified to make any more claims about this craft.

In general flying wings have advantages over normal aircraft in that everything can be placed internally so that drag is reduced to a minimum. No only that, but relative to the size of the aircraft, the internal volume of the wings allows for much more in the way of volume and weight for similarly sized and powered conventional aircraft.

Blended Wing Body

The blended wing body (bwb) design allows for the best of both conventional and flying wing. It has large internal volume, lots of lift, high cruising speeds, and a bunch of other general and unquoted stats…

The WingCo Atlantica would have been a composite aircraft. Comparing its stats to a similar conventional airplane shows its distinct advantages for the mission parameters. High cruise speed, large internal volume, high lift (increased payload) capacity.

Composites

Given the advent of high strength materials able to be bonded in composite matrices an aircraft capable of very high performance becomes possible for relatively little cash.

The first composite material to be considered is fiber glass. It is literally glass fibers that are suspended in an epoxy or other plastic matrix. By itself fiber glass does not offer much, but once it is encased in epoxy or some other hardening agent it becomes invaluable. It is light weight and very, very strong. It can be shaped into almost any shape imaginable very easily which means an aircraft that is all compound curves becomes a feasible venture.

Then comes carbon fiber. It is lighter and stronger than fiber glass but also more expensive. It can be acquired in cloth form or in rod form. The rods (specifically manufactured for aerospace applications) are currently in use in high-aspect ratio gliders. The rods are seated in a composite wing spar and epoxied into place adding stiffness and durability. Both the rod and the cloth are very, very strong.

Also to consider is Nomex honey-comb. Honey comb of any form is very light-weight for the strength it offers. It can be used as a core material for multi-layer composite construction. It is difficult to use without the proper facilities, however.

Conclusion

Given all of these advancements an aircraft of very high performance could be had for very, very cheap. The expensive part is avionics, electronics, life-support, engine, etc., etc.

Watch for more on this in the future.

This is all temporary… This world I know will shortly be gone.

It mirrors sectors of my life; minutes turned to hours. When I die it will all be but a distant memory. Simply one more wisp of smoke lost in time. Perhaps this will lend to the generation of my priorities…

I focus on the details, the science, things I can feel and touch and when I do this I forget my priorities-those handed to me by my God-and I lose myself in this little torrent of time we live in.

It is simply a matter of perspective. I can look from where I stand and I remember the past, I see the present and I anticipate the future. Where I am bound contains none of these things; time is encompassed by what waits, simply another dimension in which to move…

If I attempt to rationalize where I conjecture God to stand (a foolish pursuit, but one with a few fruits) I see how He might see. He stands outside time, seeing this thread of existence we live in; knowing all, seeing all. And for some reason He subjected Himself to this limited existence we inhabit.

For the love of man, Christ died. For me and every other person on this planet. But because of His infinite nature it is not some impersonal love, but an individual love.

And I suffer most from this: I do not perceive that love because it is not in the things I immerse myself in, not in the things I see, or feel, or touch. I have been granted these things: a life to live, and a free will to affect that life. And for one purpose I have those two gifts-to seek God and His love, His promise.

I pray to God that I do not become lost once again in the things of this world, its science and things that can be touched and heard. I pray, oh God of Heaven, that you grant me this incite; that You alone are God and that You are outside this limited existence. That You love me and let me know that you love me, not with knowledge of this limited existence I have been granted to inhabit, but with the knowledge of Your love instilled by the Spirit.

I pray these words are your Will, Lord. I pray that they touch someone for Your greater glory.

In Your holy name, the great ‘I AM,’ I pray these things.

Keep me mindful of these things, Lord, God Almighty.

Amen.

09 APR 09

The last two weeks for me have bee extremely relaxing and eye opening at the same time. I’m on what is called “Christmas Block Leave” or “Exodus” and have been since the 19th of December. Since the time I left the last post and and writing this one a number of things have changed: the first one, most important because it directly affects this blog which affects the readers, is that I now have access to technology capable of communicating with the outside world on a consistent basis. The second major thing that has changed is where I am at. I am now stationed at Redstone Arsenal for AIT (Advanced Individual Training).

The one thing I have noticed about this whole military experience so far is that my family is the only thing I really miss all of the time. Other things bother me from time to time, but it’s my family I think of on a regular basis. Next to them is my cat. Beyond that everything else is pretty much business.

After leaving my sister’s house in Oklahoma I wound up staying a day longer at the base than they or I had initially anticipated. I had been given my orders and I had the expectation that I would be shipping out within the next 24 hours. They had misread the date on my orders and it would end up being 24 hours after I was initially supposed to get up and move out.

I arrived at Redstone on the 5th of November. I started classes in basic electronics a week later. I left that class two weeks after that and waited, doing details, until the 19th of December when I took a plane home. I’ve been here at home in Washington for the last two weeks and I will be flying out tomorrow night back to Redstone Arsenal. I begin my targeted classes on the 5th of January. It ought to be extremely interesting, at least more so than sweeping leaves in an empty and windy parking lot.

Timothy, always good to see you. Say hello to ‘Let for me. And Matt.

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