Drag reducer for lift surface of aircraft
AssigneeLockheed Corporation
InventorsJohn Howard Paterson, Francis Marion Wilson, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more aerodynamic bodies of preselected shape and placement are employed on the lower surface of an aircraft wing or other aerodynamic lifting surface for the purpose of reducing its drag. These anti-drag bodies singly or collectively provide a reduction in the lower speed profile drag of the associated lifting surface, an increase in its lift at a given angle of attack, and an increase in its critical Mach number.
Claims6
A drag reducer for a lift surface of an aircraft comprising at least one member secured to the under side of said lift surface with its long dimension disposed substantially chordwise of said lift surface to thereby lie parallel with the line of flight of said aircraft, each said member being substantially circular in cross-section at each point in its length and substantially pointed at its forward and rear ends with a gradually enlarged mid-section thereby defining an external surface which is streamlined, smooth and free of any discontinuity, the rear extremity of each said member extending aft of the trailing edge of said lift surface a distance equal to about three times the maximum transverse dimension of said member which is preselected to be between 0.08 and 0.10 of the length of the chord of said lift surface at that chordwise location and disposed substantially at the trailing edge of said lift surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.