> I've noticed that the top speed formula for airships in VE2 gives about > half the historical top speed. Anyone else noticed this? > > Brandon
Are you talking about blimps or zeppelins? What is your source for speed and power? My reply is based on Zeppelins by Osprey Publishing ... I noticed that it was 'difficult' to build fast airships without high levels of streamlining. VE limits the streamlining for TL6 vehicles with wings, but that does not apply here. For the Macon, I found a volume of some 200,000 cubic meters, or 7,000,000 cf. The engines are 8*570 hp, for a total of 3,400 kW, giving 8,500 lbs. thrust with normal (not late) TL6 propellers. The top speed is 135 kph, 85 mph. To reach that speed with the available thrust, drag should be 8,200. I'll ignore gondolas and pods and concentrate on the hull: Radical Streamlining: 9,800,000 cf, 270,000 sf, drag 6,750. Excellent Streamlining: 9,450,000 cf, 270,000 sf, drag 13,500. Superior Streamlining: 9,100,000 cf, 260,000 sf, drag 26,000. LZ 74, to pick a random WWI model, had 55,200 cubic meters, or some 2,000,000 cf, and 2,700 lbs thrust. The speed of 65 mph requires a drag of 4,800. Radical Streamlining: 2,800,000 cf, 120,000 sf, drag 3,000. Excellent Streamlining: 2,700,000 sf, 120,000 sf, drag 6,000. Since the pods will add some drag, radical streamlining should give good results unless there is an error in my calculations. _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
