The Power-Wing^TM Principle

Extensive research has been conducted on ways to delay wing stall, achieve high lift coefficients, and reduce landing and take-off runs. This research has generally been labeled as boundary layer control. Other terms have also been used: circulation control, drag reduction, suction control, blowing BLC, and others. This research has been found to produce direct lift control, lift/drag ratio control, flap flow attachment, and other aerodynamic results.

The airplanes as herewith described incorporate all of the above elements, an incorporation made possible by application of modern technology. Turbine engines, high-efficiency fans, composite construction, solid-state electronics, computer technology, communication theory, and advanced techniques of analysis make it possible to design airplanes that incorporate all of these features.

A new term has been coined to denote this airplane, Power-Wing^TM Comfort-Ride^TM. This summarizes a configuration where power, in the form of pressurized air, enables the following:

1. Short take-off and landing run. This is achieved by blowing boundary layer or circulation control that keeps flaps from "stalling". For the airplanes herewith illustrated, flaps are effective up to deflections of 50° to 60°. This is in contrast to conventional flaps that start to lose effectiveness at a deflection of 20°.


2. Modulated approach angle. This is secured by direct lift control or lift/drag ratio control. This is achieved by regulating blowing over the deflected flap by changing the throttle setting of the blowing engine.


3. Gust alleviation. This is made possible by a combination of sensors and control systems that sense a gust and operate a servo system that changes the angle of a small chord flap. This increases or decreases lift of the wing depending upon the direction and magnitude of the gust. The "bumpiness" of the ride is reduced by over 60%, based on actual flight measurements. The combination of circulation control and advances in sensing and servo systems makes this possible. This is the basis for calling these airplanes Comfort-Ride^TM airplanes.


4. Extended glide. At a flap setting of zero, the momentum of the air issuing from the slot ahead of the flap produces thrust while increasing the effective aspect ratio of the wing. This enables a glide ratio of 20:1 or higher. This means that these airplanes are nearly always within range of a small airport, an airport that can be used because of the short landing capability.

Each of these features is advantageous in and of itself but singly will not justify the cost and weight of a blowing system. In combination, however, they produce airplanes with mission possibilities of significance as outlined in the mission section of this web site.