
Aerodynamic comparison between Next and Azor
First of all sorry for my english .. I tried to do my best.
All that follows are my suppositions, because I’m ignorant to the content these are to be taken with the benefit of the doubt.
All the following statements should be expressed with the conditional, but out of laziness I will not.
The resistance values obtained by the simulator does not make much sense in absolute terms, but they are useful to making comparisons therefore in relative terms.
In the analysis I ignored the presence of the propellers, because I did not understand how to consider them.
I collected the resistance data related to the models analyzed at two different angles of incidence compared to the air flow:
- at 30° to simulate the braking attitude
- at 85° to simulate the maximum acceleration attitude
Example:
Drag Force (N) | |||
Degree (°) | Azor | Next | Next VS Azor |
30 | 2,690 | 4,068 | 151% |
85 | 4,808 | 2,779 | 58% |
56% | 146% |
The last column shows the ratio of the values measured with the two models.
At 30 ° in the braking position it would be useful to have a lot of resistance, so if the value is less than 100% it would indicate an Azor advantage, but if the value is higher than 100% Next would be in advantage.
On the contrary, at 85 ° in the position of maximum acceleration it is interesting to have not much resistance, so if the ratio is less than 100% it would indicate an advantage of Next and vice versa.
In the last row the value indicates the resistance variation ratio relative to the angle of incidence, in other words it indicates how much the resistance in braking attitude increases compared to the acceleration attitude.
High values therefore indicate a better ability to brake and accelerate than low values.
Models analyzed
Next | Azor |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
3D analysis
This analysis provides resistance values on the complete model, so it is more significant than 2D analysis.
In the following images the color on the model indicates the pressure value, while on the filet it indicates the value of the air speed.
The resistance is shown in the graph.
Azor 30 degree
Next 30 degree
Azor 85 degree
Next 85 degree
Results
Drag Force (N) | |||
Degree (°) | Azor | Next | Next VS Azor |
30 | 2,690 | 4,068 | 151% |
85 | 4,808 | 2,779 | 58% |
56% | 146% |
Next in the braking attitude produces a resistance about half times higher than Azor.
Next in the position of maximum thrust produces about half of the resistance of Azor.
So Next should brake more than Azor and go faster than Azor.
Next offers almost twice the resistance in the braking position compared to that in the position of maximum thrust.
Azor offers almost half the resistance in the braking position (contrary to what would be needed).
2D analysis
In this analysis we consider the aerodynamic behavior on a defined plane, therefore as if we considered only the section of the model intersected by the plane without anything else around. The absolute values are not so meaningful, but remain useful for comparisons.
Central section of the canopy
Azor 30 degree
Next 30 degree
Azor 85 degree
Next 85 degree
Results
Drag Force (N) | |||
Degree (°) | Azor | Next | Next VS Azor |
30 | 68,660 | 51,373 | 75% |
85 | 124,331 | 72,699 | 58% |
55% | 71% |
The central section of Next in the braking position produces about a quarter less resistance than Azor.
The central section of Next in the position of maximum thrust produces about half resistance compared to Azor.
So the central section of Next should brake worse and go faster than Azor.
I believe the data are distorted by the presence of the Azor linear antenna fin.
Arms section
Azor 30 degree
Next 30 degree
Azor 85 degree
Next 85 degree
Results
Drag Force (N) | |||
Degree (°) | Azor | Next | Next VS Azor |
30 | 24,585 | 36,595 | 149% |
85 | 89,595 | 21,686 | 24% |
27% | 169% |
The section of Next’s arms in the braking position produces about half more resistance than Azor.
The section of Next’s arms in the position of maximum thrust produces about a quarter of the resistance compared to Azor.
So the section of Next’s arms should brake better and go faster than Azor.
Motor section
Azor 30 degree
Next 30 degree
Azor 85 degree
Next 85 degree
Results
Drag Force (N) | |||
Degree (°) | Azor | Next | Next VS Azor |
30 | 104,957 | 79,218 | 75% |
85 | 60,587 | 53,590 | 88% |
173% | 148% |
The engine section of Next in the braking position produces about a quarter of the resistance less than Azor.
The section of Next’s motors in the position of maximum thrust produces about a quarter of resistance less than Azor.
So the section of Next’s motors should brake worse and go faster than Azor.