The same principles that loft a 618-ton Airbus into the sky also keep a Formula 1 race car glued to the track. Downforce is lift inverted, the net result of the pressure differential between the air flowing over and under a front splitter, a front or rear wing, or an entire car body. In a modern Formula 1 car, the diffuser can contribute more than 1000 pounds of downforce. The problem is that this extra stick also raises aerodynamic drag, so engineers have to balance their need for cornering grip and stability against their car’s targeted maximum velocity. What makes a diffuser a preferred aerodynamic device is its efficiency. In terms of beneficial downforce versus parasitic drag, a diffuser is vastly superior to any freestanding wing … More
Hybrid Hydrofoil Kitesurfing in Kailua Bay Oahu Hawaii
My First complete homemade DIY hybrid hydrofoil kiteboard.
Board 3.5 foot long Paulowenia wood
Strut Koa Wood
Fuselage Windsurfing Mast 1.5″
Front wing Bamboo 10mm thick
Rear wing Titanium 2.2mm thick
Kite Ozone Edge 17M
Wind 4-6 Knots
It looks like the Tahoe snow is holding off for a while longer, so there is still time and sunshine enough to tackle a few more of the lake’s mountain bike trails. More challenging trails like the Flume Trail and portions of the Tahoe Rim Trail like Mr Toad’s Wild Ride may put off some new mountain biking fans, but one fairly new trail, the Van Sickle Trail, is a nice introduction to mountain biking at the lake.
The 3.5 mile Van Sickle Trail was built to … More
Dustinn Craig couldn’t have expressed his love of skateboarding any stronger.
“I am 50 percent White Mountain Apache and 50 percent Navajo,” the Arizona filmmaker once said, “but 100 percent skater.”
When it comes to skateboard culture, there’s a bigger, bolder picture beyond its street-surfing roots in California. The action sport also has carved out quite the niche with American Indians like Craig, not to mention more than its share of equally passionate Texans … More