Hypersonic waverider variable leading edge flaps

A hypersonic aircraft producing a shock wave, a shape of said shock wave changing depending on Mach number and angle of attack, said aircraft comprising:

• a body;
• a pair of wings coupled to said body, said pair of wings being shaped to produce lift;
• a flap member hingedly coupled to said pair of wings along a hinge line, said flap members being adjustable in a plurality of positions relative to said pair of wings so as to achieve a generally optimal position capable of maintaining attachment of the shock wave along a leading edge of said flap member at hypersonic speeds;
• a drive system operably pivoting said flap member about said hinge line in response to said signal;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to said deflectable flap systems, said controller determining said optimal position and outputting a signal.

An aerodynamic control system for an aircraft comprising in combination:

• a hypersonic aircraft having a wing-body, said hypersonic aircraft producing a shock wave, a shape of said shock wave changing depending on Mach number and angle of attack;
• a flap member hingedly coupled to said wing-body along a hinge line, said flap members being positionable in a first position where said flap members are generally planar with said wing-body, a second position where said flap members are generally non-planar with said delta wing, and a plurality of immediate positions between said first position and said second position, said flap members being positioned to maintain attachment of said shock wave along a leading edge of said flap member at hypersonic speeds;
• a drive system operably pivoting said flap member about said hinge line in response to said signal;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to said deflectable flap systems, said controller determining said optimal position and outputting a signal.