Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 18:01:50 -0700 (PDT) From: "mweb" Subject: Re: Technology in MKC Rauhnee Ranshanka wrote: >As for the TurboKat, I am thoroughly convinced that bird is not >pure technology. Somewhere in it's make up has got to be some >major magic (and anti-grav technology -- probable date >unguessasble) involved in the tricks it does, mostly in the bomb >bay and engine configuration-- there is no way it could have that >much room inside. A minimum of seven engines (four of them >completely retractable), likely it is really nine (the two in >front may look like air intakes, but they are VTOL thrusters). >This does bring up the point of how do engines run with no >apparent air intakes and where the fuel is kept (it should take a >lot to keep the jet up as long as it does, particularly when they >go into orbit). Well, there are some military aircraft (Mig-29 ??) that have air intakes on top of the fuselage that open during take-off & landing to prevent runway debris from entering the engines. Since most VTOL aircraft use some sort of deflector to "aim" the engine exhaust downward, it is not entirely impossible (in the realm of cartoon physics) for the exhaust from the 2 rear outside engines to be diverted back out through the front yellow air intakes. At the same time VTOL is engaged, intakes on top of the Turbokat would provide air for the 3 engines. As for the fuel, well... They get really good gas mileage! :) Not to mention the fact that it can run off of gas from a volcano! >Then there is the minor point that every so often TurboKat flies >itself -- at the end of The Pastermaster Always Rings Twice when >T-Bone is out cold and Razor doesn't know it. No one is flying >but the jet pulls out of a spin and levels out, all by itself by >all appearances. Doesn't the new F-18 have avionics that'll do pretty much the same thing when a pilot loses control? >Just some thoughts from a kat with too much time on her hands and >a fetish about technology. -Matt -------------------<< Advertisement >>------------------- Superior connectivity. World class hosting. Astra Labs WebHosting - http://www.astraweb.com ---------------------------------------------------------