High-performance low-noise aircraft exhaust systems and methods

An aircraft, comprising:

• a fuselage;
• at least one wing assembly extending outwardly from the fuselage in a span-wise direction, the at least one wing assembly having an upper surface and a lower surface, the at least one wing assembly including a flap member moveably coupled along a trailing edge portion of the at least one wing assembly;
• at least one propulsion unit at least partially disposed between the upper and lower surfaces, the flap member extending in the span-wise direction along the wing assembly, the flap member having a length greater than the propulsion unit;
• and
• an exhaust system configured to conduct an exhaust flow emanating from the at least one propulsion unit to an exhaust aperture proximate a trailing edge of the at least one wing assembly, the exhaust aperture having an aspect ratio defined as a maximum width over a maximum height, the aspect ratio being at least five.

A method of propelling an aircraft, comprising:

• providing a wing assembly extending in a span-wise direction and having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• providing at least one propulsion unit including at least two engines, the at least one propulsion unit at least partially disposed between the upper and lower surfaces;
• providing at least one exhaust system coupled between the plurality of engines and an exhaust aperture, the exhaust aperture proximate a trailing edge of the wing assembly, the exhaust aperture having an aspect ratio defined as a maximum width over a maximum height, the aspect ratio being at least five;
• operating the at least one propulsion unit to provide an exhaust flow;
• and
• conducting the exhaust flow through the at least one exhaust system to the exhaust aperture.