Aircraft wing with trailing edge flight control surface

An aircraft wing comprising:

• a main wing;
• a trailing edge flight control surface that is movable between a retracted position, a first extended position, in which the flight control surface is positioned rearwardly in a chord wise direction relative to the retracted position, and a second extended position, in which the flight control surface is rotated relative to the retracted position;
• a first closure panel mounted to the main wing such that the chord wise position of the flight control surface relative to that of the first closure panel is varied, as the flight control surface is moved between the retracted position and the first extended position;
• and
• a second closure panel mounted to the main wing such that the chord wise position of the flight control surface relative to that of the second closure panel is varied, as the flight control surface is moved between the retracted position and the first extended position;
• wherein, when the flight control surface is in the retracted position and when the flight control surface is in the first extended position:
• the first closure panel extends from a lower surface of the main wing to a lower surface of the flight control surface to provide an air flow surface between the lower surface of the main wing and the lower surface of the flight control surface;
• and
• the second closure panel extends from an upper surface of the main wing to an upper surface of the flight control surface to provide an air flow surface between the upper surface of the main wing and the upper surface of the flight control surface.

A method of changing a position of a trailing edge flight control surface of an aircraft wing, the method comprising:

• moving the flight control surface along the curved track between a retracted position, a first extended position, in which the flight control surface is positioned rearwardly in a chord wise direction relative to the retracted position, and a second extended position, in which the flight control surface is rotated relative to the retracted position;
• wherein the aircraft wing comprises a main wing;
• wherein the aircraft wing comprises a closure panel mounted to the main wing, such that a chord wise position of the flight control surface relative to that of the closure panel is varied, as the flight control surface is moved between the retracted position and the first extended position;
• wherein the closure panel extends from the main wing to the flight control surface to provide an air flow surface between the main wing and the flight control surface, both when the flight control surface is in the retracted position and when the flight control surface is in the first extended position;
• wherein the closure panel is moved, relative to the flight control surface, to an open configuration, in which the closure panel opens an airflow passage provided between the flight control surface and an opposed surface of the aircraft wing when the flight control surface is in the second extended position;
• wherein the closure panel extends from a lower surface of the main wing;
• wherein, when the flight control surface is in the retracted position, the closure panel extends from the lower surface of the main wing to a lower surface of the flight control surface;
• and
• wherein, when the flight control surface is in the first extended position, the closure panel extends from the lower surface of the main wing to a lower surface of the flight control surface.

A method of changing a position of a trailing edge flight control surface of an aircraft wing, the method comprising:

• moving the flight control surface between a retracted position, a first extended position, in which the flight control surface is positioned rearwardly in a chord wise direction relative to the retracted position, and a second extended position, in which the flight control surface is rotated relative to the retracted position;
• wherein the aircraft wing comprises a main wing;
• wherein the aircraft wing comprises a first closure panel mounted to the main wing, such that a chord wise position of the flight control surface relative to that of the first closure panel is varied, as the flight control surface is moved between the retracted position and the first extended position;
• wherein the aircraft wing comprises a second closure panel mounted to the main wing, such that a chord wise position of the flight control surface relative to that of the first closure panel is varied, as the flight control surface is moved between the retracted position and the first extended position;
• and
• wherein, when the flight control surface is in the retracted position and when the flight control surface is in the first extended position;
• the first closure panel extends from a lower surface of the main wing to a lower surface of the flight control surface to provide an air flow surface between the lower surface of the main wing and the lower surface of the flight control surface;
• and
• the second closure panel extends from an upper surface of the main wing to an upper surface of the flight control surface to provide an air flow surface between the upper surface of the main wing and the upper surface of the flight control surface.