Variable camber wings

A variable camber wing which comprises a leading wing portion, movable flap means carried by and tiltable with respect to the leading wing portion, an intermediate wing portion lying between the leading wing portion and the flap means, and a flexible but substantially inextensible upper skin attached both to the leading portion and the intermediate wing portion, which skin includes a trailing portion extending generally rearwardly of the intermediate wing portion, one of the intermediate wing portion and the flap means including a trackway and the other including an associated engaging member received in the trackway for sliding movement, said trackway including spaced upper and lower leading and trailing generally chordwise track portions which are bridged by an intermediate track portion, the arrangement being such that when the flap means is tilted through relatively small angles, the upper skin defines a substantially continuous and smooth surface between the leading wing portion and the flap means, whilst when the flap means is tilted downwardly through relatively large angles, the resultant effective foreshortening of the upper skin causes the intermediate wing portion to be displaced from the flap means in a generally chordwise direction as the engaging member passes along the trackway until the engaging member enters the intermediate portion, whereupon the intermediate wing portion is displaced generally upwardly relative to the flap means and lifts the trailing portion of the skin therefrom.