Questions tagged [flying-machines]
For questions involving flying objects that are heavier than air. This includes airplanes, helicopters and other types of aircraft. For questions about rocket-propelled craft, consider [rockets]. For questions about lighter-than-air craft, use [airships].
42
questions
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Plausible reasons for the usage of Flying Ships [closed]
Inspired by this question, I would like to try a similar question, but for flying ships.
So, assuming that the technology is readily available and that we could build these flying ships as easily as ...
- 381
1
vote
2
answers
128
views
Maximizing efficiency of the The geodesic sphere (literally being on cloud nine)
I’ve read about the geodesic sphere from other questions here and the underlying thing that confuses me isn’t the materials or the physics since both work, it’s making people live inside one. But what ...
2
votes
1
answer
214
views
Achieving VTOL by blowing wind directly in the wings? [closed]
In my story I pictured an aircraft that possess ducted wings that achieve lift by having air blown directly at them, originally by fans, then "bladeless" dyson thrusters that would have been ...
- 1,211
18
votes
7
answers
4k
views
A better way to do a planetary invasion?
Planetary invasions are usually depicted using drop-ships which come straight down from the sky. Pretty much armoured Apollo Era capsules. These can be bigger, for example Warhammer40k has company ...
- 17.1k
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Why broom made of broomcorn flies higher than those made of straw? [closed]
There are many different materials suitable to make a broom, however only brooms that are made of broomcorn and straws are the most sought after. Note that all broom-squires are muggles and back then ...
- 48k
5
votes
2
answers
278
views
How large could a passenger airship be built with 1920s era technology?
I am writing a steampunk novel set in a human world without computer chips, heavier than air aircraft, or recyclable plastic.
How large could a passenger airship be built using 1920s era technology? ...
- 4,454
7
votes
2
answers
392
views
Self-sufficient Airship
Self-sufficient Flying Vessel
Let's assume that something has happened to the Earth. I won't be going into detail about this, but assume that if any living organism comes within 2 miles above the ...
- 3,709
3
votes
4
answers
293
views
Sail Plan For A Flying Vessel
What precisely is the ideal sail placement for a ship that flies?
Anti-Ballast which is basically a rock that pulls up is the key technology here, allowing the construction of a framework (essentially ...
- 3,937
5
votes
3
answers
350
views
Additional applications for advanced airships in my earth-like world
Recently I have asked a question about assessing the viability of airships in the scenario of my world, concentrating mainly on their usage as cargo haulers. The answers have been pretty positive and ...
- 1,444
15
votes
12
answers
4k
views
Could an Earth-like world use airships as heavy cargo haulers?
I'd like to have freights transported across my world by airship heavy cargo haulers with some passenger variants as well.
Imagine the scene with such airships soaring above the land, floating ...
- 1,444
24
votes
21
answers
6k
views
Are "bicycles" for flying species possible?
Flying is hard. Most flying species can lift comparatively minuscule amounts of mass in the air beside themselves. Flying is also exhausting, there are only so many species that can soar in the sky ...
- 9,088
3
votes
4
answers
245
views
Is it possible to create a small aircraft drawn by flying creatures?
I would want to create a realistic spin on the "chariot drawn by flying creatures" as often seen in fantasy, such as Santa Claus' sled drawn by flying reindeer etc. My idea is for a vessel ...
- 1,317
7
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Could a mechanical bird with the wingspan of Vermont be able to fly?
I know it sounds kinda stupid, but I’m trying to create a really ominous figure that would always watch the player in this a hypothetical video game that I’m writing with my dad.
We both agreed that ...
- 121
4
votes
2
answers
452
views
Air vehicles for birds
I want to make a race of sapient birds,they are starting their own industrial revolution. Is it possible for them to develop air vehicles even though they can fly without them??
- 423
2
votes
5
answers
177
views
Wind Powered Air Sailing Vessel
Using just one fantastical element (a rock that under certain conditions produces a strong buoyant force) how would sail ships in the air be designed? It doesn't need to look like a traditional naval ...
- 147
32
votes
7
answers
6k
views
How could a 6-way, zero-G, space constrained, 3D, flying car intersection work?
Built within an asteroid belt (near convenient resources) is a densely populated human settlement. While not a "planned city", the settlement has expanded in a organised, grid like fashion ...
- 1,320
3
votes
2
answers
137
views
Can a robot which flies like a bat have telescopic wings?
Working as a continuation of the concept I mentioned in my previous question, my character is building a flying robot, which has wings which function much like those of a bat. The robot in question ...
- 14.2k
3
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Would it be possible for humans to fly with mechanical wings?
This is something I’m thinking about. Now, these would be wings that are not powered by the person themself, since we do not have the strength for it (and I don’t want to use legs). They’d be powered ...
- 39
9
votes
4
answers
945
views
Why do flying saucers have to spin while flying?
Set during the Cold War period, the then-president rented five (5) flying saucers from the extraterrestrial aliens and a few training exercises were conducted in the air space above Roswell. My father ...
- 48k
6
votes
4
answers
332
views
How would you design Turn-Signals on a Flying Car?
When designing a flying car intended for congested city routes with slow traffic, should turn signals indicate all possible directions. In most sci-fi, I've seen designs that have no turn-signals or ...
- 163
6
votes
3
answers
204
views
Flying commercial airliners with ground power?
A thought occurred to me, and I wondered if it could be made practical...
This video talks about the possibility of electrical battery powered planes, and in short, while it may be practical to build ...
- 3,267
0
votes
1
answer
97
views
Aerodynamics of propeller vs screw/fin based aerial propulsion
Would it make sense to use screw- and fin-like bending surfaces for propulsion (like what eels or the king of herrings have but in the atmosphere) instead of regular propellers or even flapping wings ...
3
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Could a vehicle levitate through use of ultrasonic sound waves?
This is a bit of a continuation of my previous question, could a form of acoustic levitation be used as artificial gravity?
In that question, I referenced how some scientists use acoustic levitation ...
- 2,733
9
votes
4
answers
855
views
How wide must aerial roadways be for safe, fuel-efficient flying cars?
A dramatic scene in my story requires a pursuit with a vehicle “threading the needle” in flight between some structures. I need to describe how small that hole would be in relation to a typical ...
- 8,199
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Could a solar system exist inside of a nebula which is made of breathable gases?
Far, far away from the Earth, there is a nebula. An enormous cloud made of 78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen and 2% other non-lethal materials. These gases swirl around a star, and the pressure around it is ...
8
votes
3
answers
900
views
Foldable, multipart helicopter blades
What would it take to build helicopter blades that can fold in several parts?
This is the continuation of a question on Aviation. Unfortunately, there have been no use case for this for existing ...
- 4,656
6
votes
5
answers
797
views
What is the earliest time a pulsejet could be built?
Let's assume that some wealthy characters somehow find the plans for a valveless pulsejet. How is not important. Maybe there was a time travel incident, or some Atlantean book was unearthed, or ...
- 4,656
3
votes
2
answers
289
views
Human Shoulder Motion & Powered Flight
I have an idea for a story where human live on world with low gravity and a dense atmosphere. These humans have developed artificial wings that are attached to their arms so they can fly. Since the ...
-2
votes
3
answers
263
views
In a world where flying cars exist, what kind of features would the cars need to have? [closed]
Designing a sort of cyper-punkish, futuristic megacity where flying cars have been adopted as opposed to land-based cars to create more space on land and to reduce traffic issues.
It can be assumed ...
- 323
5
votes
2
answers
252
views
Combining Wingsuits and Steampunk
I'm creating a city that uses wing suits to get from high elevated areas to lower areas. It's not a "steampunk" world, but they do rely on steam power.
I wanted to create a way for them to land ...
- 133
0
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Can a Magnetically Held Sphere Levitate in the Air [closed]
I have a Sphere like device in my book that floats around doing whatever stuff it does. But I wanted a different implementation than your typical thrusters for it to levitate.
So, I designed two ...
- 3,602
10
votes
8
answers
3k
views
Can Zeppelins and Blimps replace cars in the future?
It would be cool if this entire planet could use zeppelin roadways instead of tarmac roads. Especially for countryside transport away from cities. A zeppelin for one person is about the size of a ...
- 1,128
14
votes
15
answers
2k
views
Armament for airships filled with non-flammable gas
In my Fantasy/sci-fi universe there exists a lighter than air gas, that is non-flammable, while having density similar or even smaller than hydrogen (I will post some questions related to this gas in ...
- 925
6
votes
1
answer
176
views
What would be a viable "Throne" for my human to be lifted by an army of house flies?
I have this character in my story who controls insects and I wanna have him travel in swarms of house flies. why house flies? you ask? Well, two reasons:
When I was younger they were my favorite ...
- 3,743
-2
votes
2
answers
213
views
How much will I have to modify my helicopter to have it fly supersonic?
As explained in this question, current rotary wing aircraft cannot surpass the speed of sound because of retreating blade stall and the fact that the sonic boom would literally rip off the rotor. ...
20
votes
11
answers
3k
views
Airship defence against pack of flying creatures
In my fantasy world, airships are the main way of transportation. These airships have the hull of a regular 12 century medieval liner. This liner has two leather horizontal gliders on either side (...
- 2,406
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Would an actively camouflaging airship cast a shadow?
I am currently writing about a military society that enforces its subjects using Acer-class airships. Picture the USS Iowa, except flying and with enough supplies for a year in the air. The only ...
-2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Steam powered airships [duplicate]
So is it possible that an airship could actually fly using a steam engine? For example a blimp like airship that could carry a dozen or so people, as well as coal for a fuel source, and obviously a ...
- 77
-3
votes
1
answer
106
views
What would be the most efficient design for a ship that is propelled telekinetically [closed]
Suppose you possess a great level of telekinesis capable of molding steel into almost any shape just by concentrating.
And you could use it to both create a ship and propel it at almost any speed you ...
- 83
0
votes
1
answer
164
views
What type of an engine malfunction would make a good plot device? [closed]
I am writing a book that follows a colony of people living above Venus, in an Airship. At the beginning of my book, a major engine malfunction is discovered that, if let left uncorrected, will result ...
5
votes
3
answers
581
views
Mechanically correct rotorcraft aerial ship
I am taking a page from the Anatomically Correct Series here. But instead of a living organism, I'd like to ask about a special kind of vessel.
I like ships. They are big and confortable. They have ...
- 142k
5
votes
4
answers
253
views
Will hypersonic planes be common on Mars?
It's well known that SpaceX has a long term goal of getting people on Mars. Let's assume some time has elapsed since humanity's transition to Mars.
Due to lack of transport infrastructure and hostile ...
- 358