Quote:
Originally posted by MacGyver
That's some pretty interesting stuff! Thanks for sharing those links.
In the first link Nick found (the one where they show the missile launcher version) they mention this: "If the wing’s natural accelerated flow passing over it is further accelerated by the high-velocity exhaust of a turbojet engine, the lifting capacity of the wing is even more greatly enhanced."
The way I take this is that they put all those engines up in front to try to accomplish this effect. What do you guys think? (of course keeping the water and debris from being sucked in would be a good reason too)
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A very likely engineering consideration. On small aircraft the tail benefits from the airflow from the propeller to help the plane maintain directional stability. The "V" tail on the Soviet invention is also ther for stabilities sake. Normally an aircraft would have a dihedral on the wing but because they are using the wing to produce ground affect they need to keep it "straight". My guess is the tail provides some of the stability the wing shape would normally offer.