If there's one month that often gets singled out with no presentation delivered, it might (or might not) be December. Due to the holidays and other familial arrangements, there are usually fewer meetings in December, and those are often packed with other activities that are significantly higher priority than AE. That was the case in December 2018, and there was no presentation delivered that month. Sorry.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
31 December 2018
19 November 2018
Presentation: November 2018
This month's AE presenter: David
Date of presentation: 19-Nov-2018
Subject: Cruise Missiles
Description: David presented a brief history of cruise missiles. Cruise missiles have had a major impact on our world today as they have often been the first weapon used in modern conflicts. A cruise missile is a unmanned aircraft, similar to a drone, except that it is typically meant to hit its target and not return (with some exceptions). Cruise missiles differ from ballistic missiles, which have a boost phase and fall back to the target by gravity.
Cruise missiles were first conceptualized in WWI with the modification of Navy Curtis N-9 biplanes to fly into ships. The Army also developed the Kettering Bug, another pilotless biplane, to attack land targets. These weapons were too late for WWI, but the V1 Buzz Bomb was used extensively in WWII and widely regarded as the first effective cruise missile. Ground and Air launched cruise missiles culminated with the BGM-109 Tomahawk and AGM-86 ALCM missiles used today.
Date of presentation: 19-Nov-2018
Subject: Cruise Missiles
Description: David presented a brief history of cruise missiles. Cruise missiles have had a major impact on our world today as they have often been the first weapon used in modern conflicts. A cruise missile is a unmanned aircraft, similar to a drone, except that it is typically meant to hit its target and not return (with some exceptions). Cruise missiles differ from ballistic missiles, which have a boost phase and fall back to the target by gravity.
Cruise missiles were first conceptualized in WWI with the modification of Navy Curtis N-9 biplanes to fly into ships. The Army also developed the Kettering Bug, another pilotless biplane, to attack land targets. These weapons were too late for WWI, but the V1 Buzz Bomb was used extensively in WWII and widely regarded as the first effective cruise missile. Ground and Air launched cruise missiles culminated with the BGM-109 Tomahawk and AGM-86 ALCM missiles used today.
31 October 2018
No presentation: October 2018
Once again, events have conspired to deprive our audience of our monthly words of wisdom (if not wit) for the month of October 2018.
17 September 2018
Presentation: September 2018
This month's AE presenter: James Aubuchon
Date of presentation: 17-Sept-2018 (not 100% certain of exact date)
Subject: The source of subsonic lift
Description: Guest presenter James "Jim" Aubuchon delivered the September 2018 presentation on aerodynamics, explaining how the source of subsonic lift is Van der Waals Forces, and not the Bernoulli Effect as commonly believed.
The Bernoulli Effect is a valid observation made on liquids and published in 1738. In some circumstances, it applies to gases. However, it is an observed effect and not a fundamental cause. Similarly, Newton’s Laws are statements of observed behavior and are not fundamental causes. The fundamental forces of flight are gravity, which must be overcome, and the electromagnetic force, which provides lift. In subsonic flight, the electromagnetic force is applied to the aircraft via Van der Waals forces. The popular explanation of lift in terms of different airflow transit times above and below the wing is wrong.
The most intuitive way to visualize lift is in terms of Newton’s Laws. The wing directs airflow downward behind the wing, hence the air exerts an upward force on the wing. For a Cessna 182, air within about 5 meters above the wing is directed downward. Downwash and Van der Waals forces cause lift, not Newton’s Laws or the Bernoulli Effect. The Bernoulli Effect is useful in aircraft design to calculate the pressure distribution on aircraft surfaces, but, again, is not the proximal cause of lift.
Date of presentation: 17-Sept-2018 (not 100% certain of exact date)
Subject: The source of subsonic lift
Description: Guest presenter James "Jim" Aubuchon delivered the September 2018 presentation on aerodynamics, explaining how the source of subsonic lift is Van der Waals Forces, and not the Bernoulli Effect as commonly believed.
The Bernoulli Effect is a valid observation made on liquids and published in 1738. In some circumstances, it applies to gases. However, it is an observed effect and not a fundamental cause. Similarly, Newton’s Laws are statements of observed behavior and are not fundamental causes. The fundamental forces of flight are gravity, which must be overcome, and the electromagnetic force, which provides lift. In subsonic flight, the electromagnetic force is applied to the aircraft via Van der Waals forces. The popular explanation of lift in terms of different airflow transit times above and below the wing is wrong.
The most intuitive way to visualize lift is in terms of Newton’s Laws. The wing directs airflow downward behind the wing, hence the air exerts an upward force on the wing. For a Cessna 182, air within about 5 meters above the wing is directed downward. Downwash and Van der Waals forces cause lift, not Newton’s Laws or the Bernoulli Effect. The Bernoulli Effect is useful in aircraft design to calculate the pressure distribution on aircraft surfaces, but, again, is not the proximal cause of lift.
06 August 2018
Presentation: August 2018
This month's AE presenter: Jeff
Date of presentation: 6 Aug 2018
Subject: The TESS Mission
Description: Jeff gave a brief presentation outlining the goals and progress of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. TESS is a space telescope, designed to search for exoplanets using the transit method in an area 400 times larger than that covered by the Kepler mission.
Date of presentation: 6 Aug 2018
Subject: The TESS Mission
Description: Jeff gave a brief presentation outlining the goals and progress of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. TESS is a space telescope, designed to search for exoplanets using the transit method in an area 400 times larger than that covered by the Kepler mission.
04 August 2018
Event: Drone Testing
David organized a mini-event at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, CA. Several squadron members participating in our Quadcopter Kit AE Stem Project met at Baylands Park to fly the STEM Quad Lugs quadcopter. This quadcopter, built at the squadron by squadron members, was stable on the easy settings, near impossible to control on the sensitive settings. It will continue to fly in the future, and will be used at recruiting events. This successfully concludes this STEM project.
While there, the group also flew other member-owned quadcopters and fixed wing RC aircraft. The park had other RC modelers flying their aircraft, and the group spent quite a bit of time watching them as well.
While there, the group also flew other member-owned quadcopters and fixed wing RC aircraft. The park had other RC modelers flying their aircraft, and the group spent quite a bit of time watching them as well.
16 July 2018
Presentation: July 2018
This month's AE presenter: Jeff
Date of presentation: 16 July 2018
Subject: Light Pollution - Saving the Dark
Description: This month's AE presentation talked about light pollution - the causes (excessive lighting, poorly shielded lighting (particularly street lights)), the effects (wasted energy, perpetually glowing sky, health and other effects on both humans and wildlife), and suggestions for ways to alleviate the problem.
Date of presentation: 16 July 2018
Subject: Light Pollution - Saving the Dark
Description: This month's AE presentation talked about light pollution - the causes (excessive lighting, poorly shielded lighting (particularly street lights)), the effects (wasted energy, perpetually glowing sky, health and other effects on both humans and wildlife), and suggestions for ways to alleviate the problem.
04 June 2018
Presentation: June 2018
This month's AE presenter: David
Date of presentation: 4 June 2018
Subject: Delta-winged Aircraft
Description: Delta wings provide several important benefits. As triangular structures, they are inherently strong. Delta wings are streamlined. With supersonic aircraft, the leading edge of a delta wing can be angled so that the entire wing remains in subsonic air. Delta wings have surprisingly good low speed performance due to vortex lift, or leading edge vortexes effectively creating a highly-cambered airfoil. Delta aircraft can have conventional tails or be a tailless flying wing. If the aircraft is also a flying-wing, it will have to land at high angles of attack due to limited ability to deploy flaps.
Date of presentation: 4 June 2018
Subject: Delta-winged Aircraft
Description: Delta wings provide several important benefits. As triangular structures, they are inherently strong. Delta wings are streamlined. With supersonic aircraft, the leading edge of a delta wing can be angled so that the entire wing remains in subsonic air. Delta wings have surprisingly good low speed performance due to vortex lift, or leading edge vortexes effectively creating a highly-cambered airfoil. Delta aircraft can have conventional tails or be a tailless flying wing. If the aircraft is also a flying-wing, it will have to land at high angles of attack due to limited ability to deploy flaps.
31 May 2018
No presentation: May 2018
Events have conspired to rob our audience of our monthly brilliance for the month of May 2018. Apologies all around.
23 April 2018
Presentation: April 2018
This month's AE presenter: David
Date of presentation: 23 Apr 2018
Subject: The Stratolaunch Aircraft
Description: David gave a presentation this month on the Stratolaunch aircraft. The Stratolaunch is similar in concept to Spaceship One's mothership, the White Knight. It is a twin-boomed airplane used to carry satellite boosters to approximately 50,000 feet. The booster is then dropped for launch to low earth orbit. The Stratolaunch is the largest airplane by wingspan, with a 385 foot wing, longer than the wing of the Spruce Goose. Gross weight is over 1.3 million pounds, with a 500,000 pound payload. The airplane's six engines and many of the flight components were salvaged from two Boeing 747s. The Stratolaunch is currently undergoing high speed taxi testing. Its first flight is expected to be in 2019.
Date of presentation: 23 Apr 2018
Subject: The Stratolaunch Aircraft
Description: David gave a presentation this month on the Stratolaunch aircraft. The Stratolaunch is similar in concept to Spaceship One's mothership, the White Knight. It is a twin-boomed airplane used to carry satellite boosters to approximately 50,000 feet. The booster is then dropped for launch to low earth orbit. The Stratolaunch is the largest airplane by wingspan, with a 385 foot wing, longer than the wing of the Spruce Goose. Gross weight is over 1.3 million pounds, with a 500,000 pound payload. The airplane's six engines and many of the flight components were salvaged from two Boeing 747s. The Stratolaunch is currently undergoing high speed taxi testing. Its first flight is expected to be in 2019.
18 March 2018
External Activity: Supported SJSU's Reid-Hillview Open House
John Heldt and David Hartman supported San Jose State's Reid-Hillview
Open House on 17 March 2018. The objective of the open house was to
introduce the community to aviation and aviation-related careers. John
and David
talked about how aviation benefits the community, and about the CAP mission. Squadron
80's drone, assembled from a STEM kit, was displayed and used to start
conversations about CAP's Cadet Programs. The morning was successful
with introducing the community, airport officials,
and a community leader to aviation and to CAP.
12 March 2018
Aerospace Minute, 12 Mar 2018
On 12-Mar, David talked about military weapons being made obsolete by newer models. Here's the gist of his talk:
Recent tensions with North Korea have lead to talk
of increasing the US's nuclear defenses. Russia has responded by
announcing a new set of weapons designed to defeat nuclear defenses.
Russian weapons includes a Samat ICBM launched hypersonic delivery
vehicle. The Kinzhal hypersonic Kenzhal, designed to be launched from a
MIG-31, was tested last week. They also announced a tomahawk-style
hypersonic GLCM with a "nuclear booster", it is unclear how the booster
works. A new underwater drone was announced with a 100 MT warhead and
1000 mile range, four of which can be carried on an Oscar-class sub.
The US has also announced plans for new weapons systems. An RFP for a
next generation manned fighter to replace the F-22 and F-35 was
announced, based on concerns over China's J-31. The B-21 program is
underway to replace the B-2. It can be operated manned or unmanned. The
A-10 will be replaced by a new Intelligence, Surveillance, and Light
Attack (ISL) aircraft. Most likely, this will be the Cessna Scorpion, a
new light jet that can be flown manned or unmanned. Data for this came
from multiple sources.
12 February 2018
Presentation: February 2018
This month's AE presenter: Jeff
Date of presentation: 12 Feb 2018 (not 100% certain)
Subject: Juno Mission - Update
Description: For February's presentation, Jeff talked about the Juno Mission (exploration of Jupiter). The bulk of the presentation was a series of high-resolution images captured by the Juno spacecraft during its 8th, 9th, and 10th passes around Jupiter. These images largely spoke for themselves and required only minimal explanation.
Date of presentation: 12 Feb 2018 (not 100% certain)
Subject: Juno Mission - Update
Description: For February's presentation, Jeff talked about the Juno Mission (exploration of Jupiter). The bulk of the presentation was a series of high-resolution images captured by the Juno spacecraft during its 8th, 9th, and 10th passes around Jupiter. These images largely spoke for themselves and required only minimal explanation.
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