Re: [Paddlewise] aspect ratio?

From:           	"John Winters" <735769_at_ican.net>
To:             	<paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Subject:        	Re: [Paddlewise] aspect ratio?
Date sent:      	Wed, 7 Apr 1999 06:19:00 -0400

> Paddles with narrow long blades have high aspects
> ratios and paddles with short wide blades have low aspect ratios. The use
> of the terms "high" and "low" lack precision but work well enough when
> people have some familiarity with the object under discussion.
> 

Another way to think of it is that aircraft like sailplanes --- gliders --- 
have very high aspect ratio wings, long and thin, as does the U-2 
spy plane; can go high, stay high with little fuel expended.  Not 
fast, but tremendous endurance.  Like the Greenland paddle.  And 
then there's helicopters --- long, thin wings that you whip around 
over your head --- on your rotorhead, that is --- to achieve lift.  Not 
fast, but surprisingly efficient.  Igor Sikorsky called it a rotating 
wing assembly, and Sikorsky drawings still refer to it in this term.  
Fascinating, huh?  And all this based on Greenland paddles!

Actually, I was hoping Professor Inverbon might have some 
interesting etymological information on the derivative of the word 
"Toksook".

Jack Martin
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