Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Dive planes

[Paul Kreemer <paulkreemer@gmail.com>]

Some uninformed, unproven comments:

I'd say that in general as the size of the vessel is reduced the
relative size of the control planes will increase.  The Nautilus
planes are low aspect ratio, longer than they're wide, so they should
continue to work at low speed.  Similarly they might be a little
scary at high speed and would create a bit more drag than a higher
aspect ratio fin. 

They're probably arranged roughly equidistant from the center of mass
and so should allow for gliding up and down while keeping the boat
horizontal.  Actually controlling pitch would require differential
operation of them fore and aft.  

I think the Kraka planes show a modification that you see on a lot
of low speed aircraft, that backward swept leading edge section may
have been added later to increase the area of the planes.  Also a
swept fin like that does help prevent stalling so should keep working
at low speeds.  


I was wondering too, have you talked to Pat Regan or looked at his
Nautilus minisub?  I don't think he gives a lot of technical
design info on his site but he'd probably be happy to talk about
it.  

Paul