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Wednesday, 19 March 2008
2117 - Here's what I think the airplane should look like
I finally got a copy of the GIMP for OS X that doesn't require installing 59 other packages to get running. With that, I could add the graphics to the airplane design on my laptop.
The design goals here are twofold: Leave no doubt in anyone's mind that it's the Tron Guy's airplane, and still remain simple and clean. I think I've balanced the two.
I haven't quite figured out what I can do with the wings and horizontal stabilizer; I'll talk to the manufacturer before I do that part of it, since there are aerodynamic considerations involved.
current mood: ![[mood icon]](https://www.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/artistic.gif) artistic
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Comments:
What's one of those things cost?
There's some guy at work with a twin-engine, 6-seat Beech. That's gotta be ungodly expensive. My aircraft, new, will be a little north of $130K, and will cost somewhere around $30 an hour to operate. For that, I can carry two people and a small amount of luggage about 130 MPH.
It's almost impossible to guess at what his aircraft is worth. It depends on age, condition, history (was it ever in an accident? how much was damaged, if so?), and installed equipment. It could be anywhere from $75K or so up to half a million dollars. The real fun isin operation and maintenance expenses: his probably costs at least $50, and quite possibly more like $100, an hour to operate. For that, he can carry 6 people and a little luggage, or 4 people and more, about 200 MPH. You are just determining the artwork/decoration right. I don't understand why there would be aerodynamic concerns unless you are considering the weight of the paint and potential unbalancing effects of that.
The design looks good. It doesn't exactly scream Tron at me, but I can see it is Tron inspired. The problem with putting vinyl graphics on the wings is that they stick up ever so slightly. Minor changes in the airflow over the wings can have much larger effects on the aerodynamic properties of the wings than you might think, and I'd much rather be safe than sorry. I don't think it'll have that big an effect. I'm just making certain.
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