Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide for the control of airflow over a vertical control surface of an aircraft to enhance the forces produced by the surface. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, the vertical control surface of the aircraft is engaged by active flow control actuators that interact with the ambient airflow to alter one or more characteristics of the airflow. An actuator control system detects a flow control event, and in response, activates the active flow control actuators to alter the airflow. According to various aspects, the flow control event is associated with a separation of the airflow, which is corrected through the activation of the appropriate active flow control actuators, increasing the forces produced by the vertical control surface of the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide for the control of airflow over a vertical control surface of an aircraft to enhance the forces produced by the surface. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, the vertical control surface of the aircraft is engaged by active flow control actuators that interact with the ambient airflow to alter one or more characteristics of the airflow. An actuator control system detects a flow control event, and in response, activates the active flow control actuators to alter the airflow. According to various aspects, the flow control event is associated with a separation of the airflow, which is corrected through the activation of the appropriate active flow control actuators, increasing the forces produced by the vertical control surface of the aircraft.

Abstract: A wing/winglet configuration, which basically comprises: (a) a wing having upper and lower wing surfaces, a wing leading edge, a wing trailing edge, and a wing tip; and (b) a winglet having upper and lower winglet surfaces, a winglet leading edge, a winglet trailing edge, and a winglet tip, where the winglet is mounted to the wing tip at a winglet/wing tip intersection and extends upwardly from the wing tip Aft portions of the upper wing surface and upper winglet surface are flattened near the winglet/wing tip intersection to substantially reduce flow separation near wing/winglet intersection.

Abstract: A nacelle wing combination wherein said nacelle can be mounted below the wing and positioned closely to the wing, without creating excessive nacelle induced drag. The wing is contoured so that peak low pressures below the wing occur near the mid chordwise location at the lower surface of the wing. Thus, the channeling of air passing over the nacelle and under the leading edge of the wing does not create supersonic velocities which would create excessive drag.

Abstract: A swept wing for jet transports having a thickness-chord length (t/c) ratio that continuously decreases (i.e., tapers) from the wing root to the wing tip is disclosed. The tapered t/c ratio wing has reduced weight and improved overall efficiency when compared to conventional, constant t/c ratio wings. While the t/c ratio of the wing tapers, the combined structural and skin strength of the wing remains adequate to handle bending loads imposed by lift and engine weight. In this regard, the cross-sectional thickness of the midspan region of the wing is chosen such that the wing skin thickness can be reduced to the minimum allowable for the skin material. Also, the cross-sectional thickness of the outboard region of the wing is decreased, resulting in decreased drag and weight in this region. Further, the camber of the outboard portion of the wing is increased (as compared to the camber of a constant t/c ratio wing) to prevent the unsweeping of spanwise oriented isobars.