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Old 13 November 2008, 06:21 AM   #512 (permalink)
Joe Perkel
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Miami / Sebring, Florida
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Ping Pong Ball Flotation

Quote:
Originally Posted by j ferguson View Post
Finally, you don't need 38,000 ping pong balls. it looks as though it takes 16 ping pong balls to displace a pound of water. there's a lot of freeboard on your floats as well there should be, but the flotation is only being provided by the bottom 2/3s. I figure if the baby weighs 1700 lbs, fewer than 27,000 will be needed and the cost will now be less than $2,700.

you would continue to have full inspectibility, AND, if you decided they weren't really needed, t would be easy to get rid of them.

But I concede that it is a nutty idea.

John
John,

In the amateur to amateur experimental aircraft business, no idea is "nutty", so long as it's offered in the spirit of improvement and or safety. That is clearly the case here. Your ping pong ball idea, caused me to ask the following questions.....

- Why always voids (compartments) and no floatation, going back to the beginning?

- Why three compartments?

- What is the most likely causal factors of damage? (Avoidance via design, and or procedural).

- Should I do something about the shortfall of reserve of buoyancy, or leave well enough alone.

Clearly, there was much value to me in the ping pong ball idea.

Thanks!
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