Re: One-sided strength

Posted by Laszlo on Dec 4, 2004

High performance prop planes have a combination of gyroscopic precession and ascending/descending prop blade angle of attack effects (collectively called the p-effect) that combine with engine torque to make them want to roll and/or yaw out of control. That's why on planes with props that turn clockwise you always have to give it right rudder with the nose up. (And you thought bracing in the surf was complicated).

So what does this have to do with paddles? There's a lovely Italian WWII fighter plane in the Smithsonian that has an elegant solution to this problem - the left wing is 18 inches longer than the right, producing that much more lift than its partner, which counteracts the adverse effects.

Maybe all you asymmetric boys need are asymmetric paddles - shorter on the stronger side of your bodies.

Just in case no one has thought of this before, I claim intellectual property rights and hereby grant unlimited use to all paddlers everywhere without any financial encumberments.

Laszlo

In Response to: One-sided strength by Robert N Pruden on Dec 4, 2004

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