RE: Dirtside Question: Zero or low G combat

I did a scenario set on the Moon (vacuum, low gravity, closer horizon) 
called Moonbase Xi (http://www.ftsr.org/ds2/scenarios/moonbasexi.html).

To answer beth's question, yes and no. Aircraft would need much greater
lift area (without increasing weight) or would need much larger engines
(but then they would be more of controlled low-altitude rockets). And 
yes and no. If you could get the same lift from the same mass, the
carring capacity would be increased. If you have to increase the mass
to get sufficient lift (of the same mass), then no it would carry less
mass (as some of the mass that would have been carried is used to
provide lift).

-----
Brian Bell
bkb@beol.net
http://www.ftsr.org/ds2/      
-----

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Beth Fulton [SMTP:beth.fulton@marine.csiro.au]
> Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 3:45 AM
> To:	gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
> Subject:	Re: Dirtside Question: Zero or low G combat
> 
> G'day guys,
> 
>  >If you are thinking about an un-terraformed Mars, the thin
athmosphere
>  >would be the main difference to an Earth-type planet. Some
suggestions:
>  >- use only power-armoured infantry
>  >- if you use 'normal' infantry treat them as being under gas attack
> 
> They'd also be pretty cold unless they were very well rugged up so
they
> may 
> actually find it harder to get around (not that their BMF is huge to
start
> 
> with).
> 
>  >- reduce aircraft capabilities (less payload, higher vulnerability
or
>  >cost), ditto for hovercraft.
> 
> First up, is the atmosphere thick enough for aircraft to work OK? I
don't 
> know that much about aircraft, but I assumed that the reason people 
> suggested the use of airships on Mars (something picked up upon by Kim

> Stanley Robinson in his Mars trilogy) was that the atmosphere wasn't
thick
> 
> enough for more conventional aircraft.
> Secondly (just to show my complete ignorance), with a lower gravity 
> wouldn't the aircraft (whatever they ended up being) be able to carry
more
> 
> as they don't have to fight their own mass as much??
> 
>  >- Appropriate terrain - no water features or vegetation
> 
> Make things steep and sharp, the way you'd imagine the world looks
before 
> erosion, and then multiply everything by 10x size wise ;)
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Beth
> 
> 
>
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> -- 
>
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> --
> Elizabeth Fulton
> c/o CSIRO Division of Marine Research
> GPO Box 1538
> HOBART
> TASMANIA 7001
> AUSTRALIA
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> email: beth.fulton@marine.csiro.au