Re: Controls and maneuverability
In reply to #4943 Controls and maneuverability
Replies:
- #4947 Re: Controls and Maneuverability by Bertil Jonell
Scott 2G Kellogg said: > However, the normal traveller spacecraft is capable of at least 1G > acceleration for maneuvering. Now let's look at a comparable > performance: The only aircraft *I* know of with a large production > that has a 1 to 1 thrust to weight ratio (hence 1G acceleration) > is the high performance fighter, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. > Therefore, those clunky old 1G Type A Free Traders got a whole > hullovalot more maneuverability than most people realize! Huh. Kinda makes you wonder just what sort of control panel a craft with a 6G maneuver drive and an agility of 3 or so would have. Must be something pretty special. On the other hand, keep in mind that the forward acceleration of 1G for a Type A doesn't translate to 1G of *lateral* acceleration; thrusters only get 40% of normal efficiency parallel to the plates, so that's only 0.4G lateral acceleration. You'd know better than I would, but isn't lateral acceleration more closely related to maneuverability and "crankiness" than forward acceleration is? 0.4G is an *awful* lot less than the 9G that you say an F-15 can pull in a tight turn. Seth "the Lesser" Pardon me if I don't make sense; I've got 30% of a case of the mumps.