What does the whale tail do?
08-17-2005, 03:03 AM
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What does the whale tail do?
Does anyone know what the whale tail really does? Does it act as a spoiler and spoil lift, or create downforce, or both?
And how does the fixed whale tail on the turbo compare to the retractable spoilers on the 993/996 Carrera and Boxster? I was under the impression that the retracting spoiler reduced lift rather than creating downforce.
I'm no physicist, but just curious. Thanks.
And how does the fixed whale tail on the turbo compare to the retractable spoilers on the 993/996 Carrera and Boxster? I was under the impression that the retracting spoiler reduced lift rather than creating downforce.
I'm no physicist, but just curious. Thanks.
08-17-2005, 03:31 AM
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Due to the layout of the intercooler, a raised decklid needs to cover the cooler and provide cooling for it. The wing does add needed highspeed downforce.
08-18-2005, 08:02 PM
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Downforce = increased "weight" as the car goes faster pushing the car onto the road, thereby increasing stability and grip. Is also likely to increase aerodynamic drag. If a car has enough downforce it could actually drive on the ceiling as the downforce would be greater than gravity.
Lift = decreased "weight" as the car goes faster "lifting" the car from the road, reducing stability and grip.
There aren't many street cars, if any at all, that actually have downforce. What the spoilers, splitters and diffusers do is reduce lift.
From Paul Frere's book "Porsche 911 story":
993 coefficient of drag - 0.33
993 front coefficient of lift - 0.03
993 rear coefficient of lift - 0.07
993 turbo coefficient of drag - 0.34
993 turbo front coefficient of lift - 0.01
993 turbo rear coefficient of lift - 0.03
Thus the rear wing (and front spoiler) on the 993tt significantly reduces the lift but doesn't quite eliminate it. The drag coefficient is higher, part due to the front spoiler and rear wing and part due to the wider body.
Lift = decreased "weight" as the car goes faster "lifting" the car from the road, reducing stability and grip.
There aren't many street cars, if any at all, that actually have downforce. What the spoilers, splitters and diffusers do is reduce lift.
From Paul Frere's book "Porsche 911 story":
993 coefficient of drag - 0.33
993 front coefficient of lift - 0.03
993 rear coefficient of lift - 0.07
993 turbo coefficient of drag - 0.34
993 turbo front coefficient of lift - 0.01
993 turbo rear coefficient of lift - 0.03
Thus the rear wing (and front spoiler) on the 993tt significantly reduces the lift but doesn't quite eliminate it. The drag coefficient is higher, part due to the front spoiler and rear wing and part due to the wider body.
08-20-2005, 12:14 AM
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Thanks to all for the information.
VerySideways, the wheels are Fikse Mach Vs, 8.5" and 11"
Fikse Mach V
VerySideways, the wheels are Fikse Mach Vs, 8.5" and 11"
Fikse Mach V