Why are fairings called fairings? [Archive]

p.dath

4th August 2009, 23:18

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fairing

Origin: 1910–15; fair 1 + -ing 1

DarkLord

4th August 2009, 23:18

Cos it's not "fair" how much we have to pay for the blasted things if we break them.

AllanB

4th August 2009, 23:21

It's a speech thing.

When first used by a motorcyclist (his name is long lost) his mates called him a "fairy" - you know how it is Dave -"ah ya big fairy what de ya need a wee fairy screen for?" (as in HTFU).

After the race and at the pub a few too many beers were downed and speech became slurred thus "fairy" being bastardised into "fairing" and forever said as such.

Motu

4th August 2009, 23:22

From the boating crowd I think - and before there were wind tunnels,they tested aerodynamics in water tanks.

Staticam

4th August 2009, 23:27

aviation and maths ... something new learned today
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Fairing.html

AllanB

4th August 2009, 23:27

Or aircraft
From Wiki

A fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag.[1]

These structures are generally light-weight shapes and covers for gaps and spaces between parts of an aircraft to reduce form drag and interference drag, and to improve appearance.[citation needed]

However I am unsure of this as it may be perverted as the aircraft section also talks about 'flaps' a lot!!!!!

Staticam

4th August 2009, 23:34

After reading motorcycleinfo a bit further... the bit at the back of the bike must be singularity or I guess on some machines, multiplearities.
...so you can hear them better.

NDORFN

4th August 2009, 23:36

I like the way you ignore the fact of Google for the sake of a good theorizing thread Big Dave. Personally, I think they should be called clothes.

Staticam

4th August 2009, 23:51

I think they should be called clothes.

I like that. Rain for washing. Riding plus sun equals wind for drying: unless its still raining. In which case you can use the tumble dryer.

Also like

ah ya big fairy what de ya need a wee fairy screen for?

Toot Toot

5th August 2009, 02:09

aviation and maths ... something new learned today
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Fairing.html

Interesting reading. thanks for that.

YellowDog

5th August 2009, 05:55

Fairings = Costs more than the entire bike to replace.

Hitcher

5th August 2009, 09:18

It's a derivation of the ship building term "fair" which means to make smooth and even.

More worrying is that it is on the KB list of most misspelled words: it's right up there with baffles and Manfeild.

NordieBoy

5th August 2009, 09:34

aviation and maths ... something new learned today
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Fairing.html

Some good reading there...

Oscar

5th August 2009, 09:46

Fair – verb (used with object)

24. to make the connection or junction of (surfaces) smooth and even.

25. Shipbuilding.
a. to draw and adjust (the lines of a hull being designed) to produce regular surfaces of the correct form.
b. to adjust the form of (a frame or templet) in accordance with a design, or cause it to conform to the general form of a hull.
c. to restore (a bent plate or structural member) to its original form.
d. to align (the frames of a vessel under construction) in proper position.

.....

2wheeldrifter

5th August 2009, 09:53

Because 'Algenon' was taken. No. Any facts or Hypotheses?

Who want's some cheese?

mashman

5th August 2009, 09:56

If a bike is non faired then you feel buffeting. Therefore you fair your ride???

idb

5th August 2009, 10:07

I like the way you ignore the fact of Google for the sake of a good theorizing thread Big Dave. Personally, I think they should be called clothes.

Don't you hate it now that, when you're in the middle of a good argument in the pub some wanker can pull out his 3G phone and look up Google?

ready4whatever

5th August 2009, 10:32

something to do with aerodynamics

cynna

5th August 2009, 11:04

so we can laugh at the people that call them flarings

Swoop

5th August 2009, 11:27

It pre-dates aviation and comes from ship/boatbuilding.

Getting a hull "fair" or "faired up" takes a lot of work with a handplane and sandpaper, a heap of elbow grease and also time.
The result is a smooth surface and hull shape, which is more efficient in water (hydrodynamics).

Usarka

5th August 2009, 14:24

Getting a hull "fair" or "faired up" takes a lot of work with a handplane and sandpaper, a heap of elbow grease and also time.
The result is a smooth surface and hull shape, which is more efficient in water (hydrodynamics).

Like waxing ya pubes....

Max Preload

5th August 2009, 14:31

The term is also interchangable with cowlings, as in engine cowlings on aircraft.

Swoop

5th August 2009, 15:19

Like waxing ya pubes....
Please keep your Honda-riding perversions to yourself...:shit:

2wheeldrifter

5th August 2009, 16:32

As I said before... Cheese!

Imagine saying this, "Struth mate, I came off the other day a scraped all my cheese!" :shit: (you would have to wonder what he was RIDING!)

That why they are called fairings... very very simple eh?

(yes bored at work)

Big Dave

5th August 2009, 16:53

The term is also interchangable with cowlings, as in engine cowlings on aircraft.

You guys! So how does one affix a baby cow to an air-o-plane?

fliplid

5th August 2009, 17:56

You guys! So how does one affix a baby cow to an air-o-plane?

Cow Gum?:Punk:

Big Dave

5th August 2009, 17:59

Cow Gum?:Punk:

Jelly good!

NordieBoy

5th August 2009, 19:37

You guys! So how does one affix a baby cow to an air-o-plane?

Hog tied of course...