Posted on 06/10/2014 2:25:42 PM PDT by Baynative
If you were more familiar with aviation, you would know that this was practiced in WWII to save fuel and extend missions of fighter escorts. You can do a web search and find a bunch of books and sources that mention it. The Boeing video clip is about how they are looking at it in detail to make it possible to use computational resources to adjust the aircraft for maximum efficiency depending on local conditions including aricraft types, altitude, wind speed and direction, etc.
If it’s Breaking News to Boeing then I’m selling my Boeing stock.
In the picture the wind is coming across the road from the left as we look at it. In order to conserve energy riders are riding slightly behind but also obliquely behind the rider who is doing the work. This is very important to team strategy which is built around "protecting" the fastest sprinter for the day, or the team leader so they are as strong as possible at the finish.
There is a lot of technique that goes into this - the second echelon that is forming is a team all in green. They are lined up to let the fourth rider have as much protection from the wind as they can. They are also staying as far to the leeward side of the road as they can so opposing team riders can't get into their draft zone. And of course, cyclists learned this long ago and in addition to how dramatically you can feel a small change in wind when you're riding, someone taking a rest one day long ago probably gazed up and some migrating geese and the bulb went off!
I'm getting off the subject a bit. In short, I was amused that Boeing published this as a ground breaking discovery. But Kirkwood set me straight on what they are really drilling down for in the way of efficiencies.
I’m no Doris Kearns Goodwin, but I try.
We really need a “Breaking ‘Tube” section here. ;’)
Thanks Bay!
“I am a bit taken back that Boeing engineers are just figuring this out. In all the wing formations flown during bombing raids in WWII, did no one ever think of this to get planes short on fuel back to base? “
I am a bit taken back that someone would think that Boeing had no idea about this till now! Boeing is marketing the expertise to position the trailing aircraft to most effectively use the wake turbulence.
“I’m getting off the subject a bit. In short, I was amused that Boeing published this as a ground breaking discovery.”
You should have watched the video that you link-posted. You would have seen that they have developed the software to enable the efficient positioning of the aircraft.
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