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Old November 6th 03, 10:54 PM
Robert Conley
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Default An UltraLight plane on Mars?

In X-plane they have a Mars Flight Simulator. Flying on Mars has
following characteristics.

1) You can fly with a large wing span and propulsion that can operate
in an atmosphere with no oxygen (i.e. rocket)

2) You can fly up and down easily.

3) Turning is very very hard and you have to have a lot of room to do
it. This is a combination of the thin atmosphere, lower gravity, and
the fact that inertia is still the same for your craft as it is on
earth.

4) Big long runways it takes forever to take off.

5) Runways with arrestor wires and planes with tail hooks. The safest
way to stop is via a carrier type landing with arrestor wires and
tailhooks. You roll forever on mars.

6) The atmosphere scales differently so it is thinner but you can go
higher than earth.

Rob Conley