The Airtrain is an aerodynamic vehicle, therefore it was necessary to prove its ability to maintain lift and aerodynamic control capabilities.

One of the first steps to accomplish this was to employ the expertise of Boeing Technological Services (BTS) in Seattle, WA. Computer simulated flight conditions were tested and the flight worthiness of the airtrain vehicle proved positive. One area that could not be studied was how the vehicle would react to side force winds. The airtrain, being a rail-guided system has to continue to fly it’s “heading”, not able to “crab” into the wind like aircraft. At low speeds, when the vehicle is leaving a terminal, side winds could have an affect on the flight conditions. As the airspeed increases, these side wind forces become less of a factor, however the vehicle does need to be controlled continuously and side force winds would be a factor at lower speeds.

The next step was to build a 1/15th scale model of the vehicle and fly it in an actual wind tunnel. The first step was to duplicate the tests results of the computer simulated studies and verify them. Further testing of the vehicles capabilities and reaction to side force winds followed. After a series of tests, it was determined that some design changes were necessary and after making various modifications, the vehicle was again placed back in the wind tunnel. It was determined that the Airtrain vehicle is ready to be turned over to an aircraft manufacturing company for detail design and application. The design of the control system remains to be developed by a competent aircraft design team.

Note: Several constituents have made the suggestion that side wind forces, although a source for some concern, could be easily dealt with by creating a “runway” of sorts that would deflect any significant side force winds in the area most crucial before the vehicle reaches significant airspeed to counter any such force.