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The use of variable camber to reduce drag, weight and costs of transport aircraft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

J. J. Spillman
J. J. Spillman*
Affiliation:
Cranfield Institute of Technology
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Extract

It was while lecturing at Cranfield in the late 1970s and early 80s on the aerodynamic design of aircraft wings that the ideas discussed in this paper began to develop. My work on wing tip sails had led me to look in some detail at the flight of birds and their ability to vary wing camber. I realised that this was an attractive way to overcome the need to compromise between the design requirements associated with the different regimes of flight necessary with fixed geometry.

To be economically attractive, civil aircraft have to be capable of operating over a wide range of flight conditions. For example, an executive jet may be required to fly fast and low at light weight over a short stage length, such as London to Paris, on one day, and fly heavily loaded a much longer stage length the next, when it is desirable for the aircraft to fly high and at an economical speed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 96 , Issue 951 , January 1992 , pp. 1 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1992 

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References

1. Spillman, J. J. A new approach to wing design, Aerogram, May, 1985, 4, (1).Google Scholar
2. Abott, L. H. and von Doenhoff, A. Z. Theory of Wing Sections, Dover Publications, New York, 1949.Google Scholar
3. Lunn, J. D. Weight Effects of Variable Camber Wings. MSc Thesis. Cranfield Institute of Technology. 1987.Google Scholar
4. Spillman, J. J. Variable Camber Geometry for Transport Aircraft Wings. Proceedings of ‘Aerotech 92’ Conference, 14-17 Jan. 1992. Institution of Mechanical Engineers.Google Scholar
5. Rao, A. Variable Camber Wings for Transport Aircraft. PhD Thesis. Cranfield Institute of Technology. 1989.Google Scholar