Abstract: A rotor blade including a root attachable to a rotor hub. The blade includes a tip and one or more channels aligned within the blade generally between the root and the tip. Each channel has a sealed first end and a second end vented to outside the blade. The channel(s) are vented to one or more exterior surfaces of the blade through one or more apertures in the exterior surface(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling flow disturbances emanating from a protrusion, such as a beam propagating device. In one embodiment, a method includes positioning a flow control element at least partially around a base portion of a protrusion, wherein the flow control element includes at least one flow expanding feature. A reduced pressure zone is generated proximate an aft portion of the protrusion by expanding at least a portion of a flowfield. One or more flow disturbances emanating downstream from the protrusion are deflected using the at least one reduced pressure zone.

Abstract: An aircraft wing includes a leading airfoil element and a trailing airfoil element. At least one slot is defined by the wing during at least one transonic condition of the wing. The slot may either extend spanwise along only a portion of the wingspan, or it may extend spanwise along the entire wingspan. In either case, the slot allows a portion of the air flowing along the lower surface of the leading airfoil element to split and flow over the upper surface of the trailing airfoil element so as to achieve a performance improvement in the transonic condition.

Abstract: An aircraft wing includes a leading airfoil element and a trailing airfoil element. At least one slot is defined by the wing during at least one transonic condition of the wing. The slot may either extend spanwise along only a portion of the wingspan, or it may extend spanwise along the entire wingspan. In either case, the slot allows a portion of the air flowing along the lower surface of the leading airfoil element to split and flow over the upper surface of the trailing airfoil element so as to achieve a performance improvement in the transonic condition.