Tilt outboard wing for tilt rotor aircraft
OwnerAbe Kareminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tilt-rotor aircraft experience increased efficiency and fuel economy by including wing extensions outboard of the tilting nacelles. Stall and buffeting during conversion from rotor-born hover to wing-born forward flight are reduced to an acceptable level using wide chord flaps deflected upwards by at least 15-20°, preferably in combination with leading edge slats. The outboard wing or wing portion preferably has a span at least 25-40% of a span of the inboard section, and a total surface area at least 10-20% the total surface area of the corresponding inboard section.
Claims15
An improved method of transitioning between a forward cruise flight mode and a take-off and landing mode in a rotorcraft having a port wing and a starboard wing, each wing having an inboard section and a tilting outboard section disposed outboard of the inboard section, each outboard section having a leading edge slat and a trailing edge flap, the improvement comprising:
- deflecting the trailing edge flaps on the outboard sections together in an upward direction such that the flaps are deflected during transition from take-off and landing mode and forward flight relative to the leading edge slats;
- and then
- moving into the forward cruise flight mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.