Re: [Paddlewise] Stiff or Flexible?

From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 00:03:29 -0500
Dave Kruger wrote:

> I bet the US Navy has data, though I also bet a "flexible" submarine is an
> engineering impossibility, sans genetically "expanding" a whale and equipping
> it with a conning tower and living quarters midships (midwhale?).  <vbg>

You've probably seen John's response on this, however...

About twenty years ago, there was an issue the journal of the International
Association for Aeronautics and Astronautics that was devoted to alternative
sail craft.  In it was detailed information on sail powered, flexible submarines!

The idea was to transport large quantities of bulk products - crude oil in particular.
The submarine was a giant, supertanker sized, flexible tank that would be filled
with oil.  It would operate at a moderate depth and be connected to a sail by a
_long_ cable.  The sail was essentially a helium filled balloon in a wing shape.
The sail would be way up in the air, where it would pick up very high winds.
No it was not the April 1 edition!

Mike

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
Received on Sat Jan 15 2000 - 21:04:03 PST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:18 PDT