No, he worked for United Space Alliance up until about a month ago, the Contractor that actually builds the shuttle...now he left them to work on the next generation at A.S.R.C. The shuttle program is slated to end in 2010.
NASA is the Governmental side of things that oversees U.S.A.
I don't know if its "from suppliers offering the lowest quoted price" I do know it is an amazing brain trust. When you consider the magnitude of the project it makes you stop and wonder when we will reached the limit of how many complex systems and precision parts we can put together at one time before, just by sheer volume, it gets out of the scope of mans control and "Murphy’s law" starts overtaking the show.
Hi Darryl, Sweet...how do they perform on the water as compared to the original, smaller ones? What does the section view of that look like? Have any drawings? Thanks for sharing....
These are not rudder T foils. From the photo's it is a little deceptive as to their scale. These are symmetrical hydrofoils and the actual blades on them are almost twice as long as the rudder T foils. Although the mechanism for connection to an “angle of attack wand” isn't in these photos, they will be automatically controlled in a similar way to the foil on the moth. The object is to foil with them approximately 6" clear of the water surface. I am working on a case for them so that they can be fitted in the same way as dagger boards and also with a bracket so that they could be fitted to any hull. As for their first use I am in the process of finishing the plug from which to make the mouldings for a tri maran using the Alpha Omega F14 hull as the centre hull and two smaller ama’s.
I think you have a soft spot for tri marans Mary? Yes it will be 14’ long overall and 8’ wide so that it is fully trailable without any dismantling, in the same way that cats are. It will have three automatically adjusting hydrofoils, one on each extremity of the ama’s and one forward of the mast in the main hull. The foils are fully retractable from within the **** in the main hull. The idea, apart from hopefully producing a VERY fast sailing craft, is to have a craft that can be, towed, rigged, sailed, de rigged, and stored, even more simply than any cats sailing at present. I have always been a fan of the tri foiler (as well as the Rave to a lesser degree) but felt that it had a major hurdle for marketing due to its complexities and complicated set-up procedures, as well as it’s large beam on the water. No one could deny that it was/is a very exciting performer
Sorry, Darryl, but I do not like trimarans. And I hate the idea of hydrofoils.
But I do think that there is a place for small trimarans (non-hydrofoil) for youth sailors, old sailors, disabled sailors, and maybe new women sailors. THAT is why I found your project interesting.
The problem with the hydrofoil trimarans has been that when they are NOT on foils, they are extremely slow. So if you can make a small trimaran that will actually sail well and fast even when it is not on the foils (or can have the option of using the foils or leaving them on shore), that would be really great.
(I hope you aren't planning on using foot pedals for steering.)
If there is a small tri that foils at low speed and is also capable of high performance, AND that maintains all its stability throughout it's full range Mary, it would be the greatest godsend to disabled sailors ever, far better than any of the boats used by the disabled at present. I never mentioned it before but it has for many years been my ambition to produce a high performance safe boat for the physically disabled. I always ask, why should it be necessary that they be condemned to only slow boats? If you don't think that foilers work try this link and scroll down to the video link http://members.cox.net/gkettermanb/Home%20TriFoiler.shtml TriFoiler Video 6.8 MBytes - 512 kbps .wmv file
That boat is not made anymore, was very fragile from the one I saw once. And a BITCH to put together. I will stick to two hulls or buy a Corsair. Seriously looking at a Sprint 750.
That was part of the point Doug, the tri foiler did have all those problems and a few others besides, BUT the whole principle of sustained stable “flight” by a sail powered foiler is very well demonstrated by it. I just feel that if that principle (of sustained, stable, reliable “flight”) were put into practice in a better, more user friendly, more durable package, there would definitely be a good market place for it.
Darryl, It is not that foils don't work. The problem is that the Trifoiler and the Windrider Rave sail very poorly when there is not enough wind to foil. I would be nice to have a little, high-performance tri that would sail well ON the water as well as above it. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And maybe sold either with or without hydrofoils.
I understand fully what you are saying Mary, and I agree 100%, that is why I am using the Alpha Omega F14 as the centre hull and building two smaller versions of that hull for the ama's. This is so that it will have an exceptional performance in light, non-foiling conditions. Even when it is foiling I am intending for the actual hulls to be able to come into contact with the water as an assist in heavy conditions without detriment to it’s stability or speed and thereby increase it’s all round sail ability, it’s stability and it’s sea worthiness. You could say that it will be a foil assisted tri but I am looking at the project as a hybrid tri and foiler that hopefully takes the best from both and functions through the widest range of sailing conditions better. That’s the goal any way. Ohh, and it has to look "pretty" too, (if it didn't no one would want one)
We went through this in earlier posts Doug, and the problem is two fold. Back then the exchange rate between the Australian and the American dollars made a direct import to the states a rather expensive exercise, and that exchange rate has only gotten worse since then, and secondly, we looked for a builder in the states to make the Alpha Omega F14 there, but, although there was interest none of the manufacturers we contacted could see enough profit and/or demand there to enter into the venture. Pity as we would love to see the Alpha Omega F14 sailing in the US of A.
Re: Any F14 Builders Plans?
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