Abstract: A variable area inlet structure for a vehicle utilizing ram air for coolant is described which comprises a variable area inlet device in the ram air inlet in the form of a butterfly valve, damper, shutter, or similar structure, a temperature sensor in thermal contact with a component within the vehicle to be cooled by ram air flow, a controller and actuator, responsive to the temperature sensor and operatively connected to the variable area device, for controlling the inlet area in response to the component temperature.

Abstract: A thrust vectoring exhaust nozzle structure for an engine, such as a ramjet, rocket or turbojet, which generates thrust by expulsion of gaseous fuel combustion products along a thrust axis is described which comprises a generally axisymmetric housing defined along a central thrust axis including a wall structure defining an exhaust duct, and an axially spaced radially inwardly convergent portion, throat and radically outwardly divergent portion, and at least one airfoil disposed on the wall structure of the divergent portion and mounted for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the thrust axis.

Abstract: A system is described for controlling the transition of laminar/turbulent flow at a surface which comprises a thin narrow strip heater disposed adjacent the surface and extending substantially transversely of the flow of the air stream thereacross, the heater being resiliently held in tension on or in closely spaced relationship to the surface, and a power source operatively connected to the heater for applying pulsed voltage of preselected amplitude and frequency to the heater.

Abstract: A circulation controlled airfoil has a body structure with leading and trailing ends and upper and lower surfaces extending therebetween, and a cylindrical member disposed along the trailing end of the body structure between the upper and lower surfaces thereof so as to form a rounded, blunt trailing edge surface on the airfoil. A first blowing jet slot is defined between the outer surface of the cylindrical member and the trailing end of the body structure adjacent its upper surface. A second blowing jet slot is defined in a tubular wall of the cylindrical member. The latter member can be rotated to vary the distance of the second jet slot from the first jet slot and thereby adjust the point of separation of air flow along the airfoil from the outer surface of the blunt trailing edge surface formed by the cylindrical member. In such manner the lift generated by the airfoil can be optimized by providing blowing that is specifically tailored to given flight conditions.

Abstract: A circular thrust augmenting ejector has an annular wall which defines a central passageway and a convergent contoured inlet section, a constant area cylindrical mixing section and a divergent conical diffuser outlet section. The inlet, mixing and outlet sections merge one into the next in axisymmetric serial relationship. The ejector also has a plurality of discrete primary nozzles arranged about the periphery of the annular wall at the entrance to the inlet section thereof for injecting a primary flow of high velocity air into the inlet section and thereby entraining a secondary flow of ambient air into the central passageway of the ejector.