Flap drive mechanism

An aircraft, comprising:

• a wing having a main airfoil and an actuating flap;
• and
• a flap drive mechanism coupled with the main airfoil and arranged to move the actuating flap between a stowed position and a deployed position, the flap drive mechanism comprising:
• a base mount coupled with the main airfoil;
• a first track having a first rail;
• a second track pivotably coupled with the first track and having a second rail and a mount for a first flap segment of the actuating flap;
• a third track pivotably coupled with the second track and having a third rail and a mount for a second flap segment of the actuating flap;
• a plurality of links, including a mounting link that has a mount for a third flap segment of the actuating flap;
• and
• an actuator coupled with the base mount and arranged to drive the plurality of links so that the first rail translates relative to the base mount, the second track pivots relative to the first track while a bearing coupled with the third track slides relative to the second rail, and the third track pivots relative to the second track while a bearing coupled with the mounting link slides relative to the third track.

A method, comprising:

• providing an aircraft having a wing that includes a main airfoil, an actuating flap, and a flap drive mechanism coupled with the main airfoil and arranged to move the actuating flap between a stowed position and a deployed position, the flap drive mechanism comprises:
• a base mount coupled with the main airfoil;
• a first track having a first rail;
• a second track pivotably coupled with the first track and having a second rail and a mount for a first flap segment of the actuating flap;
• a third track pivotably coupled with the second track and having a third rail and a mount for a second flap segment of the actuating flap;
• a plurality of links, including a mounting link that has a mount for a third flap segment of the actuating flap;
• and
• an actuator;
• and
• moving the actuating flap using the flap drive mechanism by driving the plurality of links with the actuator so that the first rail translates relative to the base mount, the second track pivots relative to the first track while a bearing coupled with the third track slides relative to the second rail, and the third track pivots relative to the second track while a bearing coupled with the mounting link slides relative to the third track.