By: Robert Hilton - 29th January 2007 at 19:52
IIRC The Victors’s shape is in part due to the then current thinking that to perfom effectively at transonic speeds the cross sectional area of an aircraft had to fit a certain pattern when plotte dona graph – hence the practice became known as following the “Area Rule”. The Buccaneer followed similar fashion, hence it’s distinctly “nipped in” waist half way down the fuselage.
I think the “carrots” on the trailing edge of the Victor wing were also designed tand located so as to help “adjust” tte cross sectional area thus aiding conformance with the area ruling practice.
Of course, I may be totally mistaken…in which case we will soon find out.
Paul F
The Victor was “area ruled” when the mk2’s were built (prototype not included). Indeed the Whitcomb pods or window boxes as they were called by the ground crew were there to give more body in the mid section. The shape of the nose had more to do with the NBS (updated H2S) radar fitted under the cabin floor.
The mk1’s were never retrofitted with the pods.
By: Lord Vader - 29th January 2007 at 11:17
Victor is very interesting of all three V bombers and its main feature is its wings. This in flight study show the shape of wing which is the adapted basic design developed by Germans for the Arado bomber during the WW2.
Photo credit- HP Public Release [sample in private collection]
By: cypherus - 29th January 2007 at 10:17
Interesting study paper on the Victor with comparison to the Vulcan in places can be found here.
http://www.mit.edu/people/klima/PERSONAL/RESEARCH/CAMBRIDGE/whichone.pdf
By: Paul F - 29th January 2007 at 09:37
Area Ruling
IIRC The Victors’s shape is in part due to the then current thinking that to perfom effectively at transonic speeds the cross sectional area of an aircraft had to fit a certain pattern when plotte dona graph – hence the practice became known as following the “Area Rule”. The Buccaneer followed similar fashion, hence it’s distinctly “nipped in” waist half way down the fuselage.
I think the “carrots” on the trailing edge of the Victor wing were also designed tand located so as to help “adjust” tte cross sectional area thus aiding conformance with the area ruling practice.
Of course, I may be totally mistaken…in which case we will soon find out.
Paul F
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January 29, 2007 at 9:15 am