http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-255074.html
Many many years ago, people here discussed the possibility to build a radio-controlled flyable F-117, and shortly after, the X-Wing.
Am I right if I say building a flyable RC X-Wing based on the movie design is pretty easy?
The nose of the RC X-Wing can be made be very light material. It doesn’t need to house a radar and a real Luke Skywalker. Except for its aerodynamic effects, its weight shall not generate too much nose-down force. I think there’s a way to eliminate the use of canard.
For a RC airplane, the X-Wing’s FOUR-ENGINE CONFIGURATION is certainly overkill. So if you have four model jet engines, you can turn them on and off at will.
The need for canard shall not be a major issue if you use the lower two engines’ thrust to keep your X-Wing’s nose pointing upwards. The upper two engines can probably be totally eliminated. You just use these two empty engine nacelles to provide air resistance.
Two upper engines: resistance.
Two lower engines: thrust.
You can place two computer controlled valves in the two upper nacelles to control the amount of air resistance.
You can also use the computer to control the thrust of two lower jet engines. However, I think the thrust cannot be adjusted in real time. It make take a few seconds for the engines to react: the length from the fuel system to the engine and the engine rotors’ inertia …
Anyway, the wings of the X-wing can also be used to control its pitch movements. When they are fully extended, the tips of the upper wings are much higher than the tips of the lower wings. As a result, any additional resistance generated by the upper wings shall be able to make the airplane pointing upwards or sideways.
If only you have a computer and a poor programmer fired by Airbus or Boeing …
