# Windmill on an electric car

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windmill-on-an-electric-car/424974>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 2, 2007, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windmill-on-an-electric-car/424974 "2007-11-02T04:19:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windmill-on-an-electric-car/424974/41 "2007-11-13T14:34:50Z")

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[QUOTE=si\_blakely]  
As I recall, the guys flying the [Gimli Glider](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_glider) were not happy about the extra drag and the impact on glide distance.  
[/QUOTE]

Though they probably were happy to have hydraulic pressure sufficient to operate the flight controls.

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**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windmill-on-an-electric-car/424974/42 "2007-11-13T14:42:28Z")

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[QUOTE=Xema]  
Though they probably were happy to have hydraulic pressure sufficient to operate the flight controls.  
[/QUOTE]  
That really surprises (and scares) me. I would have thought that **Aircraft Design 101** would say  
“In event of total power loss, the aircraft should still be controllable for a reasonable period of time”

Si

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windmill-on-an-electric-car/424974/43 "2007-11-13T15:25:36Z")

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[QUOTE=si\_blakely]  
I would have thought that **Aircraft Design 101** would say “In event of total power loss, the aircraft should still be controllable for a reasonable period of time”  
[/QUOTE]

I think it does say that - which is why the ram-air turbine is there, and why it pops out into the airstream when power is lost. By what other method can you run a hydraulic pump when no power is available?

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