127
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] vexikron@lemmy.zip 8 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

You technically could do that... at least on a relatively short, flat, straight track... but it doesnt make any practical sense.

First, its a ram jet so something has to get it up to speed before the ram jet starts working. Though if we just make it a scramjet, there we go.

Next problem is ... it might actually need downforce winglets on it the way drag cars do. On every car. Hope there is no sudden cross wind on your nearly perfectly straight track in a large flat area. Now you need a computer system to automatically move the winglets to counter cross winds... or you need some kind of... train... pilot...???

Biggest problem is: The speeds capable by a theoretically working scramjet train would mean it could not turn on anything other than VERY wide arcs, and it wouldnt be able to get to the speeds capable of a scramjet... ostensibly the whole point... without skipping tons of stops a slower train could make...

...unless you are going to slow the thing down at each stop with a series of parachutes coming out the back, or some how be able to reverse thrust the scramjet?

As far as I know there are no reverse thrust scramjets, fairly sure thats impossible due to the nature of scramjets.

???

this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2023
127 points (100.0% liked)

urbanism

22533 readers
231 users here now

This was supposed to be c/traingang, so post as many train pictures as possible.

All about urbanism and transportation, including freight transportation.

Home of train gang

:arm-L::train-shining::arm-R:

Trainposts highly encouraged

Talk about supply chain issues here!

List of cool books and videos about urbanism, transit, and other cool things

Titles must be informative. Please do not title your post "lmao" or use the tired "_____ challenge" format.

Archive links for reactionary sites, including the BBC.

LANDLORDS COWER IN FEAR OF MAOTRAIN

"that train pic is too powerful lmao" - u/Cadende

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS