McLaren MP4-26 Launch

[astrosdude91]

Reminds me of this:

I've actually seen that bubble plane in person. It flew over my high school one day.

 

[F1 fan]

Reminds me of this:

I've actually seen that bubble plane in person. It flew over my high school one day.

That's crazy. Looks like a flying whale.

 

[Ardius]

Kinda surprised the news surrounding the new nose has yet to be added today.

Because its a testing device, not a race-spec nose, its kind of natural to see stuff like this in testing these days, so you won't see people jumping up in amazement at it.

 

[Rossticles]

What is that part of the lower rear wing behind the rear wheels? Is it another measuring device?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I can't believe people actually thought the bubble nose was going to be used in races. It's a load sensor, designed to measure how much downforce is being applied to the wing as McLaren try and work out why they're not generating downforce.

What is that part of the lower rear wing behind the rear wheels? Is it another measuring device?

Possibly, but Toyota developed something similar as an aerodynamic device around 2008-09.

 

[icelt]

Reminds me of this:

I've actually seen that bubble plane in person. It flew over my high school one day.

Ah yes, the Supper Guppy!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_Spacelines_Super_Guppy

Another a fun view of the same, although it always reminds me of a decapitated fish or something.

I actually thought of that plane briefly when reading the link and then completely forgot to mention it when I made the post.

Mclaren confirmed that that nose was a testing only nose. It is a device they are using to measure the loads across the front wing.

A lot of teams have run strange measuring devices at some point in testing.

Because its a testing device, not a race-spec nose, its kind of natural to see stuff like this in testing these days, so you won't see people jumping up in amazement at it.

Gotcha. At least for humor value it is kinda noteworthy.