90130_ Report This Comment Date: October 03, 2006 06:19AM
Too bad they never full developed "their" shuttle past initial glide
tests. Bears an uncanny resemblance to ours, eh? Here it is piggybacked on a
huge Antonov AN-225 transport. A B-52 would disappear in this plane's shadow.
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: October 03, 2006 11:49AM
Maybe you can tell me 90130, since I've always been curious, but any idea why
the dual vertical tail fins as opposed to the center single design ? Is it
supposed to lend more stability or what ??
Anonymous Report This Comment Date: October 03, 2006 03:19PM
you think it could be that way since the airflow around the shuttle in that
position would create a burble, or some wake and not get an effective amount of
undisturbed air across a single vertical tail? That would be my guess.... not
that you asked me.
90130_ Report This Comment Date: October 03, 2006 03:35PM
The primary goal was to create an open area behind the shuttle when it is
released, so there is no danger of it striking the tail surfaces. Conversely, it
also allows for easier loading of the shuttle onto the AN-225's fuselage
hardpoints. Finally, the control surfaces would have to be much larger in
proportion if there were only one vertical stabilizer, rudder, and elevator. The
horizontal stabilizer is actually larger than the wingspan of many commercial
jets!
Dennis_Themenace Report This Comment Date: October 03, 2006 06:06PM
I bet it would be possible to land a Piper Cub, Fiesler Storch, Pilatus Porter
or similar on one wing, turn around and take off again. But the the Buran would
have to be somwhere else and the Antonov standing still.
jordan1st Report This Comment Date: October 03, 2006 08:27PM
what 90130 said is correct also what Anonymous@176180 mentioned is correct,
there wont be regular air flow on the fin , therefore the rudders wont be
affective due to the huge weight of the aircraft plus the shuttle.
90130_ Report This Comment Date: October 03, 2006 08:29PM
I meant to say in my earlier posts that when the shuttle is = loaded and
unloaded = from the AN-225's fusleage, the twin vertical stabilizers allow
clearance. The shuttle in fact is NOT meant to be released mid flight from the
transport aircraft. That would be very dangerous to say the least.
90130_ Report This Comment Date: October 03, 2006 08:31PM
I'm looking around to see if I can locate any good links showing the Buran
shuttle in actual flight. Stay tuned.