Could an F1 chassis be adapted into...

[Conceptual]

... a small jet?

I often wondered what it would really take to convert an F1 chassis over to a jet. They are relatively small, and i am sure the maneuverability would be outstanding. With Vector thrusting now the norm, I think it would be an amazing machine to watch.

Does anyone have an opinion on this, or better yet, any drawings of what it may look like?

Thanks,

Chris

[Ciro Pabón]

Pratt & Whitney, 370 kW, 4WD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_56 (Graham Hill, Art Pollard and Emerson Fittipaldi drove it).



TS325-1 turboshaft engine, 325 hp, http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2827/Howmet-TX.html


STP Granatelli "Silent Sam", drove by Parnelli Jones http://jalopnik.com/cars/jonesing-for-t ... 262252.php


Jack Adams Aircraft, Allison Model 250 turboshaft turbine (one of, if not the most, popular turbines in the world), drove by Rick Muther. Couldn't find a picture.

Vector thrusting? What about the lag? You better have a computer driving the car.

[bhall]

I think he meant converting an F1 car into a jet for flight.

[Ciro Pabón]

Yeah, I thought the same, but I guess it would have to fly upside down, so the first move would be to open a hole in the floor for the cockpit...

[Giblet]

Interesting fun topic.

I think an F1 monocoque/crash cell would be the start point.

The front nose would become conical, and front wheels and suspension arms would be history. A small retractable wheel would extend from the nose.

THe engine is also gone, and the airboxes gutted. The clean intakes would lead to the intake plennum of the two jet engines, rigidly mounted to the engine mounting points.

The front wing is now a canard style wing, and the rear wing is enlargened to give the main lift. The engines are mounted below the rear wing, emebedded into the diffuser, and protruding under the bottom. The rear wheels are also gone, and replaced with two small retractable wheels.

I figure it would like the Rutan Model 33 VariEze and and F1 car.

The vertical stabilizer has already been tested on the RB4

[MrT]

Could an F1 chassis be adapted into...a small jet?

Practically? No.

[Carlos]

Couldn't you just cut an F1 monocoque right behind the driver, get a surplus F14 and cut off the cockpit and finish up supergluing them together? How about Supercar from that 60's kid show, I watched that a lot when I was in grade school.

[zac510]

Couldn't you just cut an F1 monocoque right behind the driver, get a surplus F14 and cut off the cockpit and finish up supergluing them together? How about Supercar from that 60's kid show, I watched that a lot when I was in grade school.

Sounds like a quick trip to the pearly gates

Although you have probably summarised quite well just how much each have in common.

[DaveKillens]

Dark humor........ and an urban legend, but somehow still almost believable...

http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin1995-04.html

[Ted68]

Theres these guys up in the California desert I used to sell tools to. They have some fairly interesting stuff. Instead of an F1/F14 hybrid, order up a set of plans for this thing with the original turbo-prop instead of the jet and delete-option the chain gun. You will have a nice personal aircraft.

http://www.scaled.com/projects/ares.html

Cheers!

[Conceptual]

Well, as was stated above, I was talking about a chassis mod that would allow flight. Obviously, removing the suspension, engine, and wings would be the start, and then possibly a reverse image of the top of the car formed to the bottom, and then refine the top for flow control and drag reduction instead of downforce. I also envisioned wings attached to the sidepods, while the sidepods themselves became the air inlets for the jet engine(s).

I know that you could probably have a better go from scratch, but a bare chassis retrofit almost has to save a few thousand hours of design, right? The monocoque itself should readily transfer over (with a canopy of course), as well as the nose philosophy. Remember, it doesnt have to be to F1 tech regs, so there is alot of room for correct placement.

The only problem would come when some retard comes along and insists that there be guns mounted and a payload delivery system to drop bombs. I would like to specifically ask those people to NOT add to this discussion.

Thanks!

Chris

[modbaraban]

Found this one today.

[flynfrog]

Well, as was stated above, I was talking about a chassis mod that would allow flight. Obviously, removing the suspension, engine, and wings would be the start, and then possibly a reverse image of the top of the car formed to the bottom, and then refine the top for flow control and drag reduction instead of downforce. I also envisioned wings attached to the sidepods, while the sidepods themselves became the air inlets for the jet engine(s).

I know that you could probably have a better go from scratch, but a bare chassis retrofit almost has to save a few thousand hours of design, right? The monocoque itself should readily transfer over (with a canopy of course), as well as the nose philosophy. Remember, it doesnt have to be to F1 tech regs, so there is alot of room for correct placement.

The only problem would come when some retard comes along and insists that there be guns mounted and a payload delivery system to drop bombs. I would like to specifically ask those people to NOT add to this discussion.

Thanks!

Chris

No way a bare chassis retrofit will save design time time its like trying to adapt a chassis engine combo from a truck to build your new boat

[The FOZ]

Just to give you an idea of what's involved, this guy did it with his VW...

http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/

Some reeeeally funny comments around the part where the cop comes into the story...