Putting Acceleration in Perspective
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,841
Likes: 1,705
From: Illnoise. WAY downtown, jerky.
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 326
Likes: 39
Not sure how accurate this is, but:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/aircraft-carrier3.htm
"This totally steam-driven system can rocket a 45,000-pound plane from 0 to 165 miles per hour (a 20,000-kg plane from 0 to 266 kph) in two seconds!"
The post above says "0 to 200 MPH in 2.2 seconds (the first 350 feet of the run)"; I think that's comparable to the catapult, if not slightly faster acceleration.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/aircraft-carrier3.htm
"This totally steam-driven system can rocket a 45,000-pound plane from 0 to 165 miles per hour (a 20,000-kg plane from 0 to 266 kph) in two seconds!"
The post above says "0 to 200 MPH in 2.2 seconds (the first 350 feet of the run)"; I think that's comparable to the catapult, if not slightly faster acceleration.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,387
Likes: 0
From: Palo Alto
" Quicker than a jet fighter plane. "
Jet Fighter taking off on land? Or from an Aircraft Carrier? An A/C acceleration is dependent on the steam catapult. Not totally, the jet's engines.
I doubt the acceleration is better than a F/A 18, once the plane is in air, at combat altitude.
Jet Fighter taking off on land? Or from an Aircraft Carrier? An A/C acceleration is dependent on the steam catapult. Not totally, the jet's engines.
I doubt the acceleration is better than a F/A 18, once the plane is in air, at combat altitude.
We had a similar thread a while back (great video)
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/980...tion-top-fuel/
From Paul Van Valkenburgh.
Horsepower measured from the driveshaft torque (actual measured power, not estimated or dyno) was 6000hp off the line and peaks just under 8000hp.
Engines run 40% more fuel than they can burn. The extra fuel is used to cool the motor. 70gpm flow rate but the fuel pumps are variable to control power. It takes 30hp to drive the pump.
It takes almost 800hp to drive the air pump. For calibration a 1700lb flywheel is spun to 8000 RPM then engages a clutch driven overdrive that spins the supercharger 11,500RPM. Peak boost is about 50psi.
Downforces: As the car starts the tires wind up and the rear of the car drops. Almost immediately afterwards the rear starts to rise as the tires grow. The lifting of the rear of the car can add an extra 2000lb of downforce on the contact patch for a fraction of a second. The force of the exhaust can knock a person near the engine off balance.
Horsepower measured from the driveshaft torque (actual measured power, not estimated or dyno) was 6000hp off the line and peaks just under 8000hp.
Engines run 40% more fuel than they can burn. The extra fuel is used to cool the motor. 70gpm flow rate but the fuel pumps are variable to control power. It takes 30hp to drive the pump.
It takes almost 800hp to drive the air pump. For calibration a 1700lb flywheel is spun to 8000 RPM then engages a clutch driven overdrive that spins the supercharger 11,500RPM. Peak boost is about 50psi.
Downforces: As the car starts the tires wind up and the rear of the car drops. Almost immediately afterwards the rear starts to rise as the tires grow. The lifting of the rear of the car can add an extra 2000lb of downforce on the contact patch for a fraction of a second. The force of the exhaust can knock a person near the engine off balance.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 29
From: Seabrook, MD
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,252
Likes: 3
From: charlotte, nc
Pretty cool post. The two things i took out of it:
1) With 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a near-solid form before ignition.
WTF, thats insane, i can't even mentally picture what is going on in this scenario
2) When comparing a fighter jet to the dragster - the tires of the dragster have to be able to handle the insane G force the engine is trying to deliver to allow the car to move forward... the jet fighter doesn't have that friction piece to solve for
1) With 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a near-solid form before ignition.
WTF, thats insane, i can't even mentally picture what is going on in this scenario
2) When comparing a fighter jet to the dragster - the tires of the dragster have to be able to handle the insane G force the engine is trying to deliver to allow the car to move forward... the jet fighter doesn't have that friction piece to solve for
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 38
From: Portland
Originally Posted by Gigdy
If youve never been to a top fuel race. You need to go. It isnt all that exciting after a few but the noise...
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
