Apparatus and method for preventing foreign object damage to an aircraft

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to aircraft and more specifically to measures to prevent foreign object damage to aircraft. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to measures to prevent foreign object damage to an aircraft engine.

#2. Discussion of the Related Art

#The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a is a top view of an aircraft illustrating exposure to an aircraft engine from FOD projecting from landing gear of the aircraft;

#FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are side, front and plan views respectively of the aircraft of FIG. 1 employing a FOD flap to obstruct a least a portion of lines-of-sight between the landing gear and the engine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

#The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

#Referring first to FIG. 1, shown is a top view of an aircraft illustrating exposure to an aircraft engine from FOD projecting from landing gear of the aircraft. Shown is an aircraft body 102, an aircraft wing 104, an aircraft engine 106, an engine inlet 108, landing gear 110 including a forward inboard tire 112, a forward outboard tire 114 and an aft inboard tire 116. Also shown is a line-of-sight zone 118 defined by an outboard line-of-sight boundary 120 and an inboard line-of-sight boundary 122, and a threat zone 124 defined by an outboard threat zone boundary 126 and an inboard threat zone boundary 128.

#The aircraft wing 104 is coupled to the aircraft body 102, the aircraft engine 106 is coupled to the aircraft wing 104 and the engine inlet 108 is located at a forward portion of the aircraft engine 106. The landing gear 110 is shown directly below the aircraft wing 104, and the landing gear includes the forward inboard tire 112, forward outboard tire 114 and aft inboard tire 116. The inboard line-of-sight boundary 122 is shown between a trailing and inboard edge of the aft inboard tire 116 and an inboard edge of the engine inlet 108. The outboard line-of-sight boundary 120 is shown between a leading and outboard edge of the forward outboard tire 114 and an outboard portion of the engine inlet 108.