| |
| |
|
WebsiteAlways |
|
Increasing TAS in Modern Day Fighters with Expandable Wing Tips
As fighter aircraft get faster and faster there is a diminishing return on more aerodynamic streamlining in designs. You can only build the aircraft so "Aerodynamically Correct" once you have the best optimum design for speed, there is little you can do without changing the aircraft in-flight or the air itself. Of course both of those possibilities have been and are being looked at. Let's think on the many types of fighter aircraft, which change their configurations in-flight. You have the F-8 Crusader which changed its angle of attack in-flight so it could land at slower speeds, while achieving very high speeds in flight. The F-111 and the F-14 Tomcat both have wings which sweep back in flight as the airspeed increases. Many newer fighter designs have "thrust vectoring nozzles" to help them with maneuverability and quick turns, well that is as long as the pilot can take the additional "G's" without passing out or imploding. The new JSF, B-1 Bomber and other fighters like the F-117 can store their munitions inside the aircraft so they are not hanging out there causing incessant parasite drag or adding to the extremely low radar signatures needed to maintain a stealth configuration. Many fighters will have additional drop tanks for extra fuel, which once used up are dropped. Once dropped the aircraft can then have additional maneuverability and shed the extra drag hanging below. Designers and engineers, even pilots have often thought of ways to redesign the fastest and best performing aircraft in the modern era. I propose another modification, a simpler one, which can achieve these types of increases while using very little weight. Recently an F-15 had a mishap, I believe a mid-air collision in which all of its right wing was tore off. The plane it hit both pilots ejected, however the F-15 is a tough bird with a lot of thrust and it was still under control by its pilot. The pilot and navigator/weapons co-pilot could not see the wing was gone, only a fire ball along side. They decided to fly the aircraft in and did so successfully; how can this be? Well they landed at a high airspeed and maintained control with the thrust of the aircraft. Once an aircraft travels above 450 Knots the fuselage starts flying. The fighters we have today like the F-18 Hornet (Navy) and the F-16 Talon, F-15 Eagle (Air Force) have substantial fuselages which act as wings. Therefore at higher speeds the actual wings which stick out considerably on the aircraft are simply not needed and actually impede the aircrafts top True Air Speed (TAS). So lets eliminate them once airborne and up to speed. Of course we cannot just drop them like the "drop tanks" as that is a very costly part of the modern day fighter. Besides if the wings fall off and then you have to come back an land you would have to land at a very high rate of speed like those brave boys in the F-15 missing on very important right wing from the jet intake outward; what a story, quite ballsy indeed. In my modification I propose an expandable wing spar to fold outward to various positions, perhaps two or three. Straight out, 26 degrees and 45 degrees, behind this fold out spar would be a webbing of strong inflatable polymer rubbery material made of partially MMM Manufactured material memory substances. The webbing would come out and then inflate using the jet engines ram air before take off. This hot air would cause the material memory to have increased camber for the take off configuration, a fat wing. As the aircraft accelerated the hot air would be replaced with cooler air, ram air from the ambient temperature. At 450 to 500 Knots the wing would fold back to 26-degree and then at 550 to 600 Knots fold back to 45-degrees. As the aircraft approached the speed of sound it would be completely retracted. As the webbing retracts it would run thru a roller system allowing it to take up very little space, as the area it retracts into will also hold fuel tanks and space would be limited. As the folding spar comes back it would provide an end-cap covering the system as well as a small gate or strake on the protruding fuselage/wing tip. Without the wing on the aircraft efficiency would occur in less drag, meaning higher speeds, better range and fuel economy. We seem to be reaching the top end of aerodynamic design in an atmosphere in modern day fighters. We are at the point that it is getting difficult to design an aircraft much faster. So we either need some new radical designs, change the air itself or further modify the aircraft in flight to better maintain efficiencies at each airspeed, altitude and stage of flight. Lighter and stronger materials are now coming online, how we choose to use them will be crucial in maintaining air superiority. If you are an aircraft designer please be thinking here, thank you. "Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
MORE RESOURCES:
Aviation - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Private Jet Ownership Indeed Wouldn't you like to own your own private jet? Have you ever thought about it? Many of us have and you know what it is not all that expensive as you might think after all. Private jet ownership is really taking off these days. Static Electricity to Flap UAV Material Memory Wings How can we keep aircraft and UAVs aloft longer and conserve fuel? How can we have a small MAV or UAV remain airborne for hours on end? Perhaps we should design a unit, which flies like a bird but uses the energy, which is all around us to do so. Electromagnetic Energy is everywhere. Helicopters - The Multi Utility Machines The vertical lift technology of helicopters has far more utilitarian aspects to its credit than only being an effective mode of transport. In India, civil helicopters are performing transportation business, be it executive or offshore. A380 Bathrooms Bathroom seat with a view; That's right! The all-new A-380 is trying to make air-travel fun again, with a bathroom with a view. But Airbus is not the only commercial aircraft company, which has their shit together. Moving Troops and Evacuation Strategies There are many ways to evacuate people from disasters like Hurricane Katrina for instance. There are also many ways to move troops to the area of conflict. Material Memory and NASA High Tech Plastics for Rotor Blades Some new materials, types of plastics seem to be stronger than steel by quite a bit. Since they are made of polymer plastic blends it will be possible to add in some material memory manufacturing in the process. Leading Private Jet Charter Operators Flying with the airlines can be a time consuming as well as risky proposition for businessmen as well as for people of wealth. If you absolutely, positively must get somewhere fast you are putting your trust in a system that is overcrowded, inconvenient, and failing when you fly with the airlines. Cleaning Air Cargo Containers If you own a pressure washing business, janitorial service or truck washing business you owe it to yourself to look into the cleaning of air cargo containers. The cleaning of air-cargo containers is a necessity and it is a consistent business. Airlines, Price Wars, and Branding Here are some thoughts on the study of the theory of price wars as they relate to the industries like the Airlines and others. Comments on an article in Harvard Business Review in March-April edition 2000. Downed Pilots Hibernating From the Enemy When we watch Oliver North's "War Stories" or the "Wings Discovery Channel" we often see the problematic issues with downed pilots trying to evade the enemy. They have limited if any food supply and lots of people looking for them. Really Cheap Airline Tickets When you're looking for airline tickets to your specific destination, whether it be for business purposes or for a well-deserved holiday, finding really cheap airfare tickets will relieve a lot of your traveling costs.Though there are so many places offering 'really cheap airfare tickets' on the web most have some kind of strings attached - for instance these sites may offer you really cheap airfares on flights to less popular destinations. Group Check-in At Airports Plan Ahead For A Smooth Check-in and FlightWhen traveling with a group through a major airport, here are some tips to help things go smoothly while reducing your personal stress level:1. Resist the temptation to hold on to everyone's tickets until they get in line at the terminal. Making a Mechanical Manta with Material Memory Manufacturing Methods I propose building a mechanical manta ray as a Underwater Unmanned Vehicle; UUV. The manta ray will have air tanks inside of its wings and a sound device, which will also operate a sonar and an ELF communication system. Entering Business Aviation, Part V: Tips on Finding Work I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic to write about. In fact, my knowledge of how one finds work as a private flight attendant is based chiefly on what others have shared with me. 17 Ways to Keep Safe and Secure When Flying Here are 17 ways to keep safe and secure when flying domestic or abroad. Air travelers need to keep a sharp eye and an ever present focus on what's going on around them. Cracking Aircraft Windows with Directed Sound Waves Today our modern military scientists have found many uses for directed energy beams. Some of these uses include communication, non-lethal weapons and high-energy lasers. Helicopters Outfitted With Airbags You know those airbags in your car? Did you know they are very similar in nature to the airbags deployment system used to crash land the Mars rover on the surface of Mars? Did you know that one company is making external airbags for helicopters and rotorcraft? It's all true. There are critical altitudes for helicopters incase of engine failure, altitudes that if the engine quits the helicopter will come crashing to the ground. Flying As A Hobby Ask a room full of people what hobby they have and you will get as many answers as there are people. Others will confess that they don't have a hobby. How Cheap Can You Get? Try Online for Cheap Air Tickets Most consumers feel the airline travel is very costly. We can end up spending a fortune when we add up the various costs, such as flights, accommodation, taxes and insurance, hotel services and car hire. Boeing is Really Flying Now The Boeing Company has completely blown past projections for aircraft sales this month. Before the Annual Paris Air Show the Boeing Company had already made three deals for commercial aircraft of worth over 5 Billion in sales.
|
| Interesting articles | Home | site map | Link |
| © 2006 |
