Why are Skylon engines curved like they are?

[Keatah]

Why are Skylon engines curved like they are?

Is it for aerodynamic reasons? Or something to do with angle of attack and inflowing gasses? OR something to do with the internals of engine itself? Wouldn't it be best to have the air flow through unimpeded? Or is it to expose more of the precoolers' surfaces to the stream?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SABRE_(rocket_engine)

 

[ED_4]

That's most likely have to do with what they're attached to. Have you seen the plane they're supposed to be used for?

The document below shows what they are supposed to be attached to.
http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/downloads/JBIS_v57_22-32.pdf

 

[n72.75]

That shape will induce circulation and thus, lift. Also, the engine 'tips' would have close to a zero angle of attack during reentry, thus creating a detached shock instead of a Prandtl–Meyer expansion fan, while still having a low C_D.

 

[Keatah]

Well yes of course. Engineers don't put bends and curves into the engines like that unless there's a good reason. What is that reason?

Surely it's not to make it look like it's going faster like those stylized race cars winding through turns at high-speed.

---------- Post added at 01:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:54 AM ----------

The article says it has to do with angle incidence. Apparently the ship will fly nose high while maintaining level flight.

 

[Notebook]

More info here:

http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/faq.html

N.

 

[Keatah]

This looks to be one of the premier designs. Are there any insurmountable problems with this program?

 

[Notebook]

Probably money and politics! Does seem to be going ahead fairly well.
There is this thread for it:

http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=5862&page=11&highlight=reaction+engine+news

 

[Keatah]

So there are no magical materials or super science that needs to be developed. It's a just a matter of putting everything together.

 

[ED_4]

I think I saw an addon of that aircraft for Orbiter in the Hangar. Or it surely resembles it, if it wasn't that particular one.

Yeah, I did see one. It's in the link below.

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4897"]Skylon Spaceplane[/ame]

 

[Keatah]

There are two add-ons just search Skylon..
I'm trying to find the theme song for Skylon, it's from Macaroni Union, a British electronic, downtempo, chill band.

Anyways, thing though, with this programme.. Is interest in space exploration is dying down and I wonder if it will ever be finished.

 

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