In 2009 we set out to conclusively answer the following question... Can a vehicle be built which can go directly downwind, faster than the wind (DDWFTTW), powered only by the wind, steady state? On 3 July 2010 we established a world record by going directly downwind at 2.8 times the true wind speed with the Blackbird. Now we have begun to modify the Blackbird with the intention of going directly UP-wind faster than the wind - steady state.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Shear pleasure
Our first minor casualty was a shear pin in the prop shaft. The components in this part of the chain are under the most torque load of all. We quickly replaced the soft pin with a harder grade 8 variety and I commented that now we could well break something more expensive. Turns out I was right.