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Comment by consumer451 | Hacker News Reader

Here is one in flight, very recently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRYdpoOakAY

"The lasting memory is not of flight in the modern sense of acceleration, power and performance. It is of how impossibly slow this aeroplane flies, and how absolutely improbable it is that such a machine can actually levitate above the ground."

https://speedreaders.info/32045-the-vandersarl-bleriot-a-cen...

Very, very cool. Two things I noticed:

- This is a real rotary engine, where the pistons and cylinders rotate about the crankshaft, and are attached to the propeller

- The pilot had to keep a constant down angle on the elevator to keep it flying level; was the C.G. right?

What an absolutely amazing sight. That turn at 2:30, it's incredible how small the turning radius is, it's going that slow. I could watch that plane soar all day. Thank you for posting this video.

Yes, the turning radius is quite something. It appears that the entire vertical stabilizer is a control surface.

Re. your other comment about the cardboard plane: Amazing. When I was 9 or so, my friends and me made an 'airplane' in the attic of the house where we lived. We flew it all over the world looking for treasure ;) It's a good thing we didn't see this video or for sure I wouldn't be writing this. That is absolutely amazing what that guy is doing there and to actually attempt to fly is bravery beyond the call of duty. I really hope he succeeds.

Ah cool! I though it might not fit here and did not want to appear to be spamming on this post, so I deleted the comment.

Here is the video in question for anyone curious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTEYcDU91

If that's not in the spirit of HN I don't know what would qualify. He's a little bit mad though :) I'm already antsy with a naked 7" spinning near me and he seems to have four 18" within touching distance.

Oh, I just realized why it has that very tight turning radius, but only when turning right.

It's the gyroscopic procession of the majority of engine's mass spinning, in that crazy rotary (not radial) engine!

Yes! Coincidentally I'm working on a project right now that has the exact same issue. It will turn clockwise with great ease and counterclockwise is super hard.

For a week now, I keep wondering what this could be.

I'm surprised the rear end of the fuselage was an open skeleton instead of being covered like the wings and tail. Wouldn't that significantly interfere with the airflow?

It does, but this airplane is so light that it would also upset the balance, even a little weight that far back has a huge effect on where the center of mass is.

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