Eric,
Is correct, I referred to my modified Taipan. Overall beam width is a very important factor in platform stiffness meaning that small changes in width will result in large differences in platform stiffness. A good portion of the standard Taipan stiffness in relation to F16's is due to it being 0.2 mtr narrower. It doesn't sound like much but it makes 42% difference in stiffness if the hulls and or beams aren't redesigned to compensate for this.
Personally I consider increasing platform stiffness beyond a certain minimum value to be useless. Other may differ in their opinion. Stealth always seem to be stiffer then this minimal level.
Even so, they are not as stiff as the new gel-tek A-class I just saw down in Long Beach
The new versions of the F16's have all increased their platform stiffness and some are now well below the above minimal amount. Personally I feel that any more stifness is not worth considering as with it the magnitude of speed gains is too small to be significant. If measureable.
The newer versions flex less then the width of my little finger when fully suspended between their sterns and one bow. And I have narrow fingers.
Wouter
