Quote:
Originally Posted by Not
But wagon wheels on dirt you get lots of drag, less in the air, right?
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I'm not sure about that.
Le Geant, which was mentioned as the reference balloon, was 200' tall when fully inflated. That's an
awful lot of wind resistance, even on a calm day. Whether it's more or less than the friction of decently-made wagon wheels on dirt I'm not sure, but it must represent a sail area comparable to a decent-sized sailing ship. Hit a stiff headwind, and I imagine the balloon towing the dragon, backwards. Given a bit of blustery crosswind, the control issues are going to be very, very interesting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Not
A dragon that size might provide motive force but not lift, so we're back to hot air. Surely the dragon can also be the furnace? Lots of work for the dragon, though.
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So you're envisaging, what? The dragon wearing an asbestos facemask hooked up to a sealed tube running back to the balloon?