Method and system for store rack carriage
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorWilliam H. Stock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method which allows for the change of pitch angle of a store as required during the mission of an aircraft to minimize the frontal area of the store. By minimizing the drag of the store during the flight, the range of the weapon delivery system can be extended and aircraft handling qualities can be enhanced. The system includes sensing, processing, and positioning means that cooperate to adjust the store position relative to the aircraft.
Claims10
A method of minimizing drag forces on an aircraft from an externally mounted store during flight of the aircraft, comprising:
- detecting selected airflow conditions and flight parameters on said aircraft;
- processing said detected airflow conditions and flight parameters to calculate a position of said externally mounted store that minimizes the effective frontal area of said store;
- and
- positioning said store relative to said aircraft based upon said calculated position.
A system of minimizing drag forces on an aircraft from an externally mounted store during flight, comprising:
- sensing means to detect airflow conditions and flight parameters;
- processing means responsive to said sensing means for generating a position signal representative of a position movement for said store to minimize the effective frontal area of said store, said position signal varying as a function of said sensed airflow conditions and flight parameters;
- and
- store support responsive to said position signal that modulates said store position relative to said aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.