'Human flight' suit concept...

[Singular Intellect]

This is sort of an engineering/materials/design curiousity...

Suppose you've devoloped some technology or ability that allows a human being to fly in a similiar nature to 'Superman' (ie: telekinesis, the Silver Surfer's surfboard, or maybe just strapped to the wing of a jet fighter ). In terms of achieveble effect, assume one could accelerate a human body to hypersonic speeds if desired. The point is we'll igore fuel and propulsion means for this brainstorm.

Human frailties still apply however. So the question is, assuming money is no object, what kind of 'flight suit' could we engineer whereas the goal is to keep a normal human body comfortable and protected at extremely high altitudes and extremely high speeds? Obviously things considered would be air friction, aerodynamics, the individual's ability to move inside the suit, breathable air supply, etc, etc.

Could we theoritically design a stylish and aerodynamic flight suit capable of withstanding orbital altitudes and hypersonic speeds(I know, I know, I'm just using this as the high end goal!), or would we be stuck with a clunky astronaut like suit unable to withstand very high speeds without breaking apart?

Note: If we're currently aware of new technologies and materials possibly applicable for this design effort (and obviously practical in terms of implementation), assume they're available. As stated, we're assuming money is no object for the design.

[Winston Blake]

This is... a bit strange.

Anyway, the forces at work at hypersonic speeds would definitely require a rigid, streamlined shape. I'm imagining some kind of big flattened cone that fits over a person down past the knees, with arm holes in it. To fly, they tuck in their legs and arms. Hatches close over the holes, then the wormhole-fed nozzles fire up or whatever.

[Singular Intellect]

This is... a bit strange.

Oh, I quite agree, but I couldn't resist asking.

What brought the idea to mind was watching several scenes of relatively recent movies, like Superman Returns and Fantastic Four 2. Both movies included some really great shots of high altitude/outer space and extreme speed scenes, utilized by practically unprotected super beings.

Which made me wonder what kind of protection would be required to put a real human in that position and if we could even get close.

[Singular Intellect]

Anyway, the forces at work at hypersonic speeds would definitely require a rigid, streamlined shape. I'm imagining some kind of big flattened cone that fits over a person down past the knees, with arm holes in it. To fly, they tuck in their legs and arms. Hatches close over the holes, then the wormhole-fed nozzles fire up or whatever.

That's sounds less like a suit and more of 'wearable aircraft frame'.

Obviously my error by not being more clear initially, but the goal here is a humanoid shaped suit that allows relatively normal freedom of movement.

I know this pretty much kills hypersonic speeds, and very likely even supersonic as well, but I did throw those speeds more out of establishing a 'keep dreaming' idea, not neceassrily the realistic one.

[Darth Wong]

This is sort of an engineering/materials/design curiousity...

Suppose you've devoloped some technology or ability that allows a human being to fly in a similiar nature to 'Superman' (ie: telekinesis, the Silver Surfer's surfboard, or maybe just strapped to the wing of a jet fighter ). In terms of achieveble effect, assume one could accelerate a human body to hypersonic speeds if desired. The point is we'll igore fuel and propulsion means for this brainstorm.

Human frailties still apply however. So the question is, assuming money is no object, what kind of 'flight suit' could we engineer whereas the goal is to keep a normal human body comfortable and protected at extremely high altitudes and extremely high speeds? Obviously things considered would be air friction, aerodynamics, the individual's ability to move inside the suit, breathable air supply, etc, etc.

Could we theoritically design a stylish and aerodynamic flight suit capable of withstanding orbital altitudes and hypersonic speeds(I know, I know, I'm just using this as the high end goal!), or would we be stuck with a clunky astronaut like suit unable to withstand very high speeds without breaking apart?

Note: If we're currently aware of new technologies and materials possibly applicable for this design effort (and obviously practical in terms of implementation), assume they're available. As stated, we're assuming money is no object for the design.

You've been reading Iron Man comics again? Anyway, it would need a very elongated shape, for aerodynamic purposes. It would have to be fairly large, to limit harmful heat transfer from air friction to the occupant. And at hypersonic speeds, it still wouldn't last that long. It wouldn't have a regular human shape, that's for sure. So one would have to wonder how well it would work as a human suit, since you couldn't walk around in it.

One solution might be to have a disposable aerodynamic clamshell that splits apart when the occupant wants to get out and maneuver.

[Singular Intellect]

You've been reading Iron Man comics again?

Actually, if I hadn't seen the movie trailer for that specific subject (one to which I laughed out loud when I saw him flying on par with F22 fighter jets), I'd have no clue what you're talking about.

Anyway, it would need a very elongated shape, for aerodynamic purposes. It would have to be fairly large, to limit harmful heat transfer from air friction to the occupant. And at hypersonic speeds, it still wouldn't last that long. It wouldn't have a regular human shape, that's for sure. So one would have to wonder how well it would work as a human suit, since you couldn't walk around in it.

One solution might be to have a disposable aerodynamic clamshell that splits apart when the occupant wants to get out and maneuver.

I seem to have shot myself in the foot by even mentioning hypersonic or supersonic speeds for a human suit allowing mobility.

I was practically certain such speeds are virtually impossible for a humanoid frame with today's technology anyhow, but I threw out that speed potential anyway (given I injected a 'magical' means of propulsion and fuel).

What I'm really asking is what kind of speed and altitude could a flexible humanoid suit allow a person to achieve built with today's latest and greatest technology.

For example I know that a virtually unprotected human body doesn't seem to have too much trouble dealing with terminal velocity in free fall which can reach speeds up to 320 kph, depending on position and aerodynamics of the body at that time.

[Lambda 00]

or maybe just strapped to the wing of a jet fighter

That conjures up interesting mental images...

[Warthog]

For example I know that a virtually unprotected human body doesn't seem to have too much trouble dealing with terminal velocity in free fall which can reach speeds up to 320 kph, depending on position and aerodynamics of the body at that time.

I thought that the largest risks of high speed travel are shocks due to sudden acceleration or decceleration. For instance in a car crash where there is rapid decceleration you have 2 different frames of reference. One you in your car, so hitting the dash etc. And your internal organs and you, so internal organs moving due to shock and hitting bone and causing organ damage.

So it's not the speed that kills you it's the stopping.

[Singular Intellect]

For example I know that a virtually unprotected human body doesn't seem to have too much trouble dealing with terminal velocity in free fall which can reach speeds up to 320 kph, depending on position and aerodynamics of the body at that time.

I thought that the largest risks of high speed travel are shocks due to sudden acceleration or decceleration. For instance in a car crash where there is rapid decceleration you have 2 different frames of reference. One you in your car, so hitting the dash etc. And your internal organs and you, so internal organs moving due to shock and hitting bone and causing organ damage.

So it's not the speed that kills you it's the stopping.

We are not talking about acceleration or decceleration, we're talkling about aerodynamic efficiency, air friction, altitude, ability to breath, etc. The skydiver was merely a known example of how fast a virtually unprotected human can go within Earth's atmosphere without serious side effects. How much faster a unprotected human can go I'm not sure. What I'm interested in is just how much faster a human could go in a flexible humanoid suit designed to the best of our ability with modern technology to protect them at much higher velocities.

And for the record, yes, enough speed will definitely kill you. Why do you think objects burn up when they enter the atmosphere of Earth?

[Broomstick]

Since we had a computer crash/rebuild this week I've lost most of my bookmark references, but clearly you need to research the world-record sky dive by Joe Kittinger from 102,000 feet (give or take a few inches). That's about 31,300 meters. On the way down he did break the sound barrier, and here's a picture of him wearing his gear:



Granted, this is not at the high end of your goals but it's damn impressive nonetheless. He did have a pressure suit of sorts - he had to, otherwise he wouldn't be able to breathe. One of the major difficulties was slowing him down enough, gently enough, to deploy a parachute - you didn't want either Mr. Kittinger or the parachute coming apart due to sudden deceleration. It really is the sudden stop that kills you when skydiving goes bad and not the speed in and of itself.

Oh, and by the way - this was done with 1960 technology.

It should be noted that the highest speeds occurred at the high altitudes where there is little air resistance. The biggest problem was really stability - but then they were looking for a controlled fall rather than true flight and maneuvering capability.

[Brimstone]

I thought that the largest risks of high speed travel are shocks due to sudden acceleration or decceleration. For instance in a car crash where there is rapid decceleration you have 2 different frames of reference. One you in your car, so hitting the dash etc. And your internal organs and you, so internal organs moving due to shock and hitting bone and causing organ damage.

So it's not the speed that kills you it's the stopping.

Imagine a 1 km/s (about Mach 3) wind hitting you, and you should be able to see why high speed can be dangerous to an unprotected human. You are correct for lower speeds, and/or for people who are inside a vehicle that can withstand the air pressure.

[Broomstick]

Or be high enough that the air pressure is extremely low, so that Mach whatever breeze does not exert sufficient force to hurt a human body.