[lostllama]

https://www.aurora.aero/2020/11/12/aurora-flight-sciences-to-develop-new-x-plane-under-darpa-contract/

Well, it's only a model for wind tunnel testing purposes. But, those shapes....

More info here:
https://hushkit.net/2020/11/17/new-x-plane-aurora-crane-announced-for-darpa-our-analysis/

[Scourge of Ages]

That's really cool

(Direct image:)

[DefCynodont119]

Huh, interesting, I wonder how those hollow bits effect it's aerodynamics.



And because I can't resist the reference:

(incoming transmission)
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-----I---Think--It's--------funnnny--------------------
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-Can-you-here-me?-----------------------------------
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----------------------------are-you-there?-------------
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(end message)

[Luis Dias]

really cool

[starlord]

As far as I understand my aerodynamics correctly, those holes in the wings mean a big no-no as far as flying is concerned, as least as far as atmosphere flight is concerned.

Pretty much anything works in space though.

Someone might wish to print this model and put it in a wind tunnel.

[The E]

Those holes aren't an issue. Such concepts have been tried, and there are at least some designs (box-wing designs, to be specific) that are seemingly perpetually the next step in aircraft design for Boeing and Airbus.

[starlord]

Again, not a specialist by any means but the annular wing and close wing designs you show here don’t really compare with the Pegasus that much. The wing is clearly angular, and at this point I think you might end up with a wing actually grounding the craft (similar to those on racing cars).

Again, take it with a grain of salt, but it would be interesting to test this in a wind tunnel.

BTW: I think Messerschmidt tried the annular wing concept in a WW2 prototype.

[DefCynodont119]

They are testing a model of it in a wind tunnel, the picture literally shows the model inside a wind tunnel.

[starlord]

Cool. I’d like to see the numbers...