Ha! That was always my contention as well. The same holds true for tear drop headlights. I like them a lot but always want to flip them over to see what it would look like "point-up". - EM
Hiya Ray To continue this RIDICULOUS conversation on the aerodynamic properties of 38/39 taillights...@1946caddy nailed it on the wing. The drag is intentional, to redirect air to (shape of a wing) flow faster under the wing than over the top...to create lift. Drag is mostly created at the front of an object...but the friction coefficient is why boatails (and wings) are pointy in the rear. The smoother the surface and the more gradual the disturbed air (drag) is dissipated, the less turbulence caused...thus less nominal friction. Whew...That's ENOUGH thinking for one day. Time for a beer and a cigar PS Dispite the aerodynamics of 38/39 taillights...anyone who mounts them pointed up (wrong) is an idiot...screw physics
Ol' Henry got just about EVERYTHING right...and for a lot of years too. (except maybe overlapping Model A doors and "Cable-draulics")
It may come as a surprise to both you gents, but I have been an aircraft enthusiast since childhood, and a long time licensed private pilot with an instrument rating. Further, I have owned and flown more than ten airplanes in my flying time, ranging from 1946, 1948, 1952...classic era stuff, to later model ‘Spam Cans’, and one so-called ‘Homebuilt’, that by type was licensed as an Experimental. Though that one was a plans built replica of an Italian designed FAA Type Certificated production airplane (Falco). I did not build it, but it was built by a fellow From Austin, TX who built many planes and published books on the subject. I have performed many repairs, modifications and a couple engine overhauls under ‘supervision’ of an IA. Though I am not an expert on the subject, I do have a pretty good grasp of the aerodynamics of wings and the Bernoulli Principle of lift, thank you. Yes, the wing is usually, but not necessarily, asymmetrical in shape. I didn’t go into all the specifics of airfoils because, as some posters have indicated, they are not really interested in the details. What I said is generally true in spite of lacking further explanation of the matter. Mostly I was just ‘piling on‘ with good natured, intended to be humorous, kibitzing. Hnstray (aka Snoopy)
Funny, I'm almost 60 years old, have been around cars all my life, still have my first car I got @ age 13 (yes, a '39 Ford with THOSE taillights), & this is the first time I've EVER heard them referred to as "teardrop." BTW: mine have bluedots. Never seen a teardrop with those either.
Well I'm a little bit remorseful to have brought science into this thread... So in the spirit of HAMB solidarity I'll make one further suggestion: "Heads and Tails"...point one down (correct way) and the other up (incorrect way). Now which side is down and which side is up will no doubt stimulate further discussion! LOL
A PERFECT EXAMPLE (in my opinion ) Of tail lights mounted correctly point down, but WAY to far from license plate.
Bet you weren't expecting all this when you asked that question! This virus and being all cooped up is getting to us.
Yeah, I was just spewing some of my old engineering crap...sorta "tongue in cheek" and not to be taken too seriously. Wow Ray, that's a very interesting and impressive aviation history. I grew up in a Cessna 172. My Dad was a military parachutist and later a sport skydiver. When my Mom made him quit jumping, he went and got his pilot's license...and later his Glider rating. Sadly, I didn't inherit my Dad's love of the "Wild Blue Yonder"
We were talking about "cheating" the wind...not creating lift. Point end forward, less wind resistance. Round end forward...well, you could create so much lift that the taillights fly/rip right off the fenders
The Bernoulli Principle When the air splits to go around the wing, the air that is forced over the wing travels farther and the distance between the air molecules increases, making the air above the wing less dense, or lower pressure. The pressure difference between higher pressure air below the wing and lower pressure air above the wing causes lift.
Ever notice when tail lights are advertised they are shown how they should be mounted? HRP Lincoln Ford
Look at Tommy the Greek's fine line, ALL his teardrops are 'point down'. The Greek is turning over in his resting place at such a suggestion! Bet von Franco doesn't like it either. Screw to the bottom. Point down.
The Jalopy Journal
