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Why does the Concorde not have flaps?
It’s well known that the Concorde had no flaps or slats. The lack of high-lift devices considerably reduced lift at low speeds, requiring the Concorde to take off and land at higher speeds and angles of attack than if it had been equipped with flaps and slats.
Was the Tu-144 a copy of Concorde?
The Russian-built Tupolev Tu-144 beat the Concorde into the air by two months. But the supersonic plane would enjoy a far less successful career. The aircraft wasn’t the famous Concorde, but the Russian-built Tupolev Tu-144, the world’s only other supersonic airliner. …
Can the TU-144 Supercruise?
Engines. Although studies showed that turbojet engines are highly desirable for supersonic airliners, none were available. This meant that while Concorde could supercruise (maintain supersonic flight without using its afterburners), the Tu-144 could not.
Do Concorde have ailerons?
Concorde did not use flap systems to improve the subsonic performance. It had no leading-edge devices and the trailing-edge devices called elevons, were primary flight controls used for trim and control purposes only. Instead, Concorde relied on vortex flows to provide extra lift and reduce incidences.
Why did they put canards on the Tu-144?
The canards on the Tu-144 weren’t canards technically. They were static surfaces, not moving. They were purely lift devices to improve low speed handling (and thus help reduce landing speed which was excessively high). These were added because low speed handling was found to be deficient, due to the inferior (as compared to Concorde) wing design.
How did the Tupolev Tu-144 achieve its speed?
The Tu-144 only achieved this speed by using afterburners the entire time. The Concorde actually reached cruise on its normal engines and did not require as much fuel by far. The Tu-144 also did not have any pilot aids or electronic controls. Unlike the cutting edge computers and controls of the Concorde, the Russians went old school.
Why did the Concorde not have a tail?
Without a stabilizing tail, a cambered delta configuration will become unstable. The only camber which is helpful for delta wings is at the leading edge and must be compensated by a little trailing-edge up deflection of the control surfaces.
How did the wind tunnel affect the Concorde?
Early on in the Concorde project, wind tunnel tests found that a wing of the right shape would generate overwing vortices at low speeds and high angles of attack. This meant a big increase in lift, which lowered takeoff and touchdown speeds.