Jet engine tail pipe flow deflector

In combination with a jet engine having a tail pipe terminating in an orifice through which a jet stream exits, a deflecting device for producing a component of thrust at right angles to the jet stream direction, said device comprising:

• means providing a transversely practically flat longitudinally curved surface, having a uniform width that is a small fraction of the circumference of said orifice and bounded by plane side walls normal to the surface, starting at the edge of the tail pipe orifice in a position of tangency to the jet stream and making an increasing outward angle with the jet stream direction, a series of control ports extending across said surface at the point of tangency;
• a normally open air valve connecting the control ports to outside ambient air;
• and means for closing said air valve to produce said component of thrust;
• said plane said walls extending radially into and beyond the inner radius of the tail pipe orifice and into the jet stream existing therefrom, thus defining the amount of jet stream to be deflected when the air valve is closed and shielding the portion of the jet stream to be deflected from the influence of the remainder of the jet stream on the outer sides of said plane side walls.