Nicholas Landell-Mills- Master of Arts
- Consultant at Independent Researcher
Nicholas Landell-Mills
- Master of Arts
- Consultant at Independent Researcher
Newton explains lift; Buoyancy explains flight.
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61
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Introduction
Independent research.
Current institution
Independent Researcher
Current position
- Consultant
Education
September 1985 - June 1989
Publications
Publications (61)
A re-evaluation of the existing evidence engenders an improved explanation of lift based on Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma) and the actual airflows observed in flight (not the relative airflows seen in wind tunnel experiments).
According to Newtonian mechanics, a bird's wings accelerate (a) a mass of air (m) downwards, to create a downward force (Force =ma). The reaction provides lift that pushes the bird up. The wings impart momentum to the air to create lift. This is similar to how insects fly.
This Newtonian approach challenges the prevailing view that fluid mechanic...
Propeller thrust can be actively or passively generated. Newtonian physics provides a straightforward and easily understood explanation of the forces created by all propellers, rotors and wings. The propeller passes through a mass of air each second (m/dt) that it accelerates to a velocity (dv) backwards to create a force (Force = ma = m/dt x dv)....
The forward force generated (Force = ma) depends on the mass of air re-directed by the sail (m) and the speed of the wind decelerated (a). That’s why a boat can sail faster than the wind.
It is common to see boats with multiple sails, but not airplanes with multiple wings. Why?
Wind tunnel experiments fail to adequately replicate flight. This issue can lead to misinformed pilots crashing aircraft.
The forces generated by an airfoil differ if the air is moving (e.g. sailing) or static (e.g. a wing in flight).
Airplanes do not ‘fly’ as commonly assumed. Instead, airplanes float in the air, similar to how boats float in water.
The centrifugal force is not perpendicular to a car when turning, and its direction changes as the steepness of the turn changes. This approach can better explain the physics of gyroscopes.
The lower drag profiles of narrow-bodied jets like the A-321 XLR provide superior fuel efficiency as compared to wide-bodied jets.
The separate analysis of mass (m) and acceleration (a) provides novel insight into how lift (Force = ma) is generated by a wing.
How maple seeds spin as they descend to generate lift and achieve balanced flight with only one wing.
The physics of how stones can bounce across the water.
Superior autonomous flight control using Newtonian physics.
![Fig. 3a-i. Variable wing-sweep positions. [21]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/378875664/figure/fig4/AS:11431281236738236@1713345409702/a-i-Variable-wing-sweep-positions-21_Q320.jpg)
Analysis of variable sweep wings provide useful insight.
![Fig. 2c. Tri-plane and quadra-plane. [20]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/378870202/figure/fig22/AS:11431281281014871@1727678811852/c-Tri-plane-and-quadra-plane-20_Q320.jpg)
An aeronautical enigma explained with Newtonian physics.
![Fig. 3b-i. Ground-effect vehicle compared to a seaplane. [8]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/375289617/figure/fig11/AS:11431281203689561@1699428402083/b-i-Ground-effect-vehicle-compared-to-a-seaplane-8_Q320.jpg)
![Fig. 3c-i. Analysis of glider downwash. [44][47]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/375289617/figure/fig13/AS:11431281203689564@1699428402330/c-i-Analysis-of-glider-downwash-4447_Q320.jpg)
The velocity of the downwash generated by the wings, determines the distance that ground-effect is evident.
Newtonian mechanics provides a better solution of how induced drag is generated by an airplane wing.
Another nail in the coffin for the arguments by fluid mechanics to explain how a wing generates lift.
Airflows observed in wind tunnel experiments have been misinterpreted, leading to incorrect explanations of lift.
Similar to how a sail generates a force from the wind, the boat's hull generates a force by re-directing water flow.
Flying-wing deigns are advantageous as wings generate almost
no parasitic drag in flight, according to Newtonian mechanics. This approach explains why flying slower and thinner fuselages minimises drag while maximising lift performance.
![Fig. 2a-ii. Coanda effect -ping pong ball experiment. [7]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/363093401/figure/fig121/AS:11431281260952956@1721294184954/a-ii-Coanda-effect-ping-pong-ball-experiment-7_Q320.jpg)
The Magnus effect on a spinning ball revisited using Newtonian physics
Newtonian mechanics and the actual airflows observed in flight (not the relative airflows seen in wind tunnel experiments), provides new and useful insights.
![Fig. 1a. Relative and actual wing airflows. [13][15] Also, substantial...](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/356555716/figure/fig450/AS:11431281238003576@1713783913188/a-Relative-and-actual-wing-airflows-1315-Also-substantial-differences-are-seen-in_Q320.jpg)
Relative airflow analysis in wind tunnel experiments does not accurately depict the actual wing airflows and forces seen in flight.
Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma) is used to assess claims made by the aircraft manufacturer Otto Aviation that their new prototype Celera 500L airplane is about seven times more fuel-efficient than a comparable business jet.
Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma) explains the forces involved in wakeboarding and water-skiing across water, when pulled forwards by a motorboat. The physics is the same for both. As the board moves through the water it accelerates (a) a mass of water (m) downwards to create a force (Force = ma). The reaction is an equal and opposite force that pus...
![Fig. 2d-iii. Skis attached to motocross. [2][3]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/354844800/figure/fig10/AS:11431281168683767@1687085881907/d-iii-Skis-attached-to-motocross-23_Q320.jpg)
A motocross and cars can float on the water like a boat.
Paraglider wings redirect a mass of air (m) from the apparent wind against the undisturbed wind, which decelerates (a) the re-directed airflow. This action creates turbulence and a backwards force (Force = ma). The equal and opposite forward force provides thrust to push the paraglider ahead. The paraglider steals momentum from the wind by slowing...
The kite steals momentum from the wind, allowing it to pull the kitesurfer forwards. This is similar to how a boat can sail into a wind.
The physics of surfing is an enigma. In particular, it is unproven how a surfboard can grip the water with sufficient force to allow a surfer to stand at the tip of a surfboard while riding a wave (i.e. nose-riding). In short, according to Newtonian mechanics the wave pushes the surfboard upwards. The force generated (Force = ma) depends on the mas...
![Fig. 4a. Resistive Force Theory -Annotated. [32] [36]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/349710821/figure/fig26/AS:11431281168664910@1687073643126/a-Resistive-Force-Theory-Annotated-32-36_Q320.jpg)
The physics of how fish swim remains unexplained. It is unknown how swordfish can swim at 100 km/hr, outpacing a cheetah running on land at 90 km/hr. Current theories include: the Elongated Body Theory, the Resistive Force Theory, and Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma). In addition, some people have incorrectly tried to apply fluid mechanics and theo...
The conundrum of why dolphins generate low drag. Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma) provides a method to calculate the forces acting on a dolphin swimming. In turn, this provides a framework to solve Grays Paradox, which has remained unexplained since 1936.
Solutions to these simple activities would lead to greater tangible benefits than a photograph of a black hole or discovery of Higgs Boson.
Grays Paradox remains unresolved despite claims in 2009 and 2014 to have found a solution, which relied on unproven theories of aerodynamic lift on an airplane wing. These approaches are found to have a weak theoretical basis.
How fish swim and how to win a swimming race.
NS equations fail to adequately explain how an airplane wing generates lift.
![Fig. 2. Portuguese Caravel [8].](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/365547039/figure/fig1/AS:11431281102771248@1669529958670/Portuguese-Caravel-8_Q320.jpg)
![Fig. 3. Portuguese trade routes in the 1500's [9].](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/365547039/figure/fig2/AS:11431281102813840@1669529958718/Portuguese-trade-routes-in-the-1500s-9_Q320.jpg)
See the updated paper "The Paradox of sailing faster than the wind." https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335505038_The_paradox_of_sailing_faster_than_the_wind
![Fig. 1c. Paper airplane flying through smoke. [2]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/343283696/figure/fig14/AS:11431281292480634@1732611586305/c-Paper-airplane-flying-through-smoke-2_Q320.jpg)
How paper airplanes fly according to Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma).
The same logic applies to skiers, frisbees, and paper airplanes. Newtonian mechanics provides insight to design a better wingsuit.
Gliders can actively or passively generate lift.
![Fig. 5d. Drag coefficients of different 2D objects. [1]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/337934778/figure/fig92/AS:11431281200426990@1697898524490/d-Drag-coefficients-of-different-2D-objects-1_Q320.jpg)
Newtonian mechanics explains why drag and kinetic energy quadruple if a car’s velocity doubles.
Analysis of 123 aircraft shows that heavy aircraft with short
wingspans, such as the Airbus 380, generate lift energy-inefficiently.
It remains unproven how a boomerang generates lift. In addition, it is unclear how a boomerang achieves an uneven curved path through the air. Newtonian mechanics provides a novel solution to explain how lift is generated. Also, the uneven nature of the boomerang's curved flight path is explained by the AOA changing as the boomerang’s speed slows.
Newtonian mechanics provides insight into how efficiently different wing designs generate lift.
According to Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma), at terminal velocity a skydiver displaces a mass of air each second that is equal to the skydiver's mass. A skydiver floats in the air similar to how a boat floats in the water.
Thrust-to-weight ratios of 0.3 prove that to fly lift does not equal an airplane’s weight (Lift ≠ Weight), as commonly believed.
Newtonian mechanics provides an alternative explanation of how things like ground effect and airfoil thickness affect the lift generated by a wing.
![Fig. 1a. The accepted view of how lift is generated. [1][34]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/336653004/figure/fig469/AS:11431281236804537@1713344475971/a-The-accepted-view-of-how-lift-is-generated-134_Q320.jpg)
Newtonian mechanics explains how a wing generates lift during inverted flight, which fluid mechanics fails to do.
![Fig. 1b-i. Albatross flying into the wind. [17]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/336613987/figure/fig311/AS:11431281168629967@1687068734421/b-i-Albatross-flying-into-the-wind-17_Q320.jpg)
![Fig. 3a-i. Coanda effect and turbulence on an albatross's wing. [45]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/336613987/figure/fig341/AS:11431281223889207@1707990749822/a-i-Coanda-effect-and-turbulence-on-an-albatrosss-wing-45_Q320.jpg)
![Fig. 3a-iii. Different wing types of birds. [45]](profile/Nicholas-Landell-Mills/publication/336613987/figure/fig342/AS:11431281223972246@1707990749954/a-iii-Different-wing-types-of-birds-45_Q320.jpg)
Albatrosses soar by stealing momentum from the wind, similar to how boats sail into the wind.
How bee and butterfly wings generate lift.
This paper conducts a thought experiment. For the principles and equations of physics to be maintained; if gravity doubles, then time itself will slow to half speed. The rules by which reality functions don't change because the parameters (gravity and time) change.
This analysis helps elucidate the gravitational time dilation aspect of Einstein's...
Lift (Lift = ma) is generated by a frisbee accelerating (a) the mass of air (m) flown through downward.
Newtonian vs. Fluid Mechanics. Experts cannot agree if airplanes are pushed up according to Newtonian mechanics, or pulled (‘sucked’) up according to fluid mechanics.
Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma) is applied to solve an old enigma: Why the vertical lift generated by a wing quadruples if horizontal the aircraft’s velocity doubles.
Helicopters float in the air, similar to how boats float in water.
See updated paper: Skydivers achieve buoyancy at terminal velocity, according to Newtonian mechanics.
How much air does a wing push down? No precise calculations of the downwash created by wings are available in textbooks, aircraft manufacturers, or otherwise.
This paper provides a novel framework and three example calculations of the downwash generated by a wing, using Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma).
The physics of how airplanes stay airborne.
A re-evaluation of the existing evidence engenders an improved explanation of lift based on the actual airflows observed in flight and Newtonian mechanics (Force = ma). In addition, the amount of lift an aircraft needs to fly is better explained by applying Archimedes principle of buoyancy to flight.
Questions
Questions (6)
The performance data for how much lift wings generate under different conditions (e.g. airspeed, wing AOA, altitude density, ....) is all tested empirically for subsonic aircraft. i.e. For new airplanes, aircraft manufacturers go out and manually test how much lift the wings generate under different conditions. There's no equation, computer simulation or wind tunnel that can accurately predict the performance data.
Is this correct? If so, then the performance testing process sounds very time and resource intensive (i.e. expensive).
Many thanks !
The media occasionally comment on the lack of evidence for any theory for how things fly, sail and swim (see attached file). The prevailing unproven theories for these activities are based on fluid mechanics (Navier-Stokes equations). Also, the maths for Navier-Stokes equations are still unproven (the existence and smoothness problem).
But this issue appears not to be a priority given that it rarely gets any attention, which is weird because this is the 21st Century. This should have been resolved by now?
Thanks in advance for any comments.
Hi. Can anyone could recommend an aeronautical / aviation conferences to attend in 2020 in Europe; particularly for fluid mechanics and applied aerodynamics. Thanks!
Research idea: Use airflow analysis (CFD) to test the newtonian theory of lift on an airplane.
Process: First, use CFD data and analysis tools to estimate the mass of air pushed down each second ('m'/dt) by the wings of an airplane in flight; and the vertical velocity ('dv') that this air is accelerated to. From that you can estimate the downward force (Force = ma = m/dt x dv) applied by the wings on the air. The 'equal and opposite' upward force should equal the lift required by the airplane to fly (after deducting induced drag). Then you can test whether the lift generated is adequate to keep the airplane flying.
This idea involves an alternative interpretation of Newtons laws; it is NOT the momentum theory nor the 'flow turning' theory of lift, which are based on Newtons laws (Force = ma = d(mv)/dt).
For more details see the paper:
Pls keep me informed if you do this research. Thanks.
For the avoidance of doubt, this is the standard equation where: Lift = 0.5 (Aircraft Velocity2 x Air Density x Wing Area x Lift Coefficient.
This standard equation is essentially descriptive as it provides a summary of the key factors that determine lift. But it does not explain the physics involved in these relationships. For example, lift is proportional to the square of aircraft velocity. But equation provides no insight into exactly why lift quadruples if aircraft velocity doubles.
I'm asking as this would help resolve the debate as to the actual physics of flight (lift).
Thanks for any insight, advice or assistance!!
