extenders by VoshExeter

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

extenders

POSTED BY: VOSHEXETER
UPDATED: Monday, December 22, 2008 00:02
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Sunday, December 21, 2008 3:07 PM

Sorry if this is a re-post, but what function are the extenders supposed to actually serve on Serenity? Stability in flight? Solar panelling? These were my best guesses.

Solar panelling? I know.......

voshExeter

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Sunday, December 21, 2008 4:55 PM

ANONYMOUS1

Quote:
Originally posted by VoshExeter:
Sorry if this is a re-post, but what function are the extenders supposed to actually serve on Serenity? Stability in flight? Solar panelling? These were my best guesses.

Book explains in the Serenity pilot episodes. The earlier Firefly model he flew on did not have the extenders...tended to shake a bit. So I think the thought is that the extenders allow the engines to be a little further out from the main body of the ship. So the answer is more stability.

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Monday, December 22, 2008 12:02 AM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Just wathced the Pilot again on 20 Dec.
Assuming the extenders Book mentions as being the wing/engine pod extenders. This could mean the original had engines always close in and could not extend out, or they were always extended out, unable to retract, and without any extending ability. New modification would have added "extenders" to extend/retract the engines, also allowing tighter maneuvering at slower speeds, tighter spaces (one of the advantages claimed by Firefly models.) For just hovering the basic load per engine will be the same, but for maneuvering the engine would have less strain while extended, less work to accomplish the same shift of axis/position/attitude.
If th3e new version has new ability to extend, then the engines will be farther away from the fuselage, and vibrations from the engine will be dissipated more. With the old version engines in closer, the engine must work harder to achieve the same flight result, thus more heavy load vibration, and less disipation between it and the hull. These vibrations, which can be very substantial, could be the "shake" referred to by Book. At the higher speeds (in atmo, where the engines are used) Firefly is in transition from space, and the extenders might be retracted to minimize heat sheild exposure during re-entry, then extended while at slower speeds in atmo.

This would conclude the "answer" is more comfort. This reduction in fuselage vibration would also result in fewer breakdowns of equipment in the cockpit and things, like computers, cookware, etc.

Joss said the extenders were to make it resemble a firefly tucking in its wings.
Just my opinion.

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