Tactile Strip Sensors on Leading Edge of Material Memory Airfoils

Aircraft designers have always tried to figure out the best compromise for the aircraft they build, trying to get maximum performance at both high and low airspeeds. Now with material memory components they will be able to do this. The camber of the leading edge can change to a nice fat round area for slow speeds when Short Take Off and Landing STOL is needed and back to a thin leading edge for the lowest coefficients of drag and optimal cruising speed once airborne. But how will the aircraft know when to do this on its own. After all if the wing has material memory based on a heat, then it might be hotter at lower altitudes and then less ambient temperature (2 degrees per thousand feet) at higher altitudes. Yet when moving much faster the friction will heat up the wing also or you could be flying in an area with temperature inversion like Los Angeles basin where the smog is kept in the valley. (UCLA when the smog clears?)

By using tactile strips on the leading edges of wings, which are shaped with material memory for slow speeds, once the aircraft has sped up there will be more pressure on the leading edge. (we know this because the bugs are stuck better on faster aircraft and harder to clean off; www.AircraftWashGuys.com). As the aircraft travels through the air faster the static air will be greater and that static air can provide pulse power to the material memory leading edge to force it to constrict and become thinner. Thus the aircraft does not need to compromise wing shape for fast and slow flight. A JSF could land at 60 kts and still fly at 2.3 times the speed of sound. Additionally a UAV could remain loitering in the battlespace for hours after taking off from a short runway or carrier and then accelerating to a fast speed and then slowing down to STOL type speeds and then speed away or evade when completed. Aircraft, which are cargo transports rely on STOL Capabilities and once airborne must conserve fuel and increase range for efficiency. Such a system can do all this and more.

Currently robotics teams have tactile sensors so the robots will not crush the item they are picking up, they do this by measuring the pressure on the object. We should take this technology and apply it to the leading edge of aircraft wings to help us improve and enhance the performance without compromising the aircraft's abilities for STOL or higher True Air Speeds (TAS). This will save fuel and increase safety. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Aerodynamic Inflatable Wing Gates for STOL

Low speed flight characteristic are crucial to safety. Those aircraft... Read More

Really Cheap Airline Tickets

When you're looking for airline tickets to your specific destination,... Read More

Young Men Trying to Imitate the 9-11 Scenario, Part II

What happened to General Aviation after 9-11? Why did we... Read More

Finding the Cheapest Airfares

To find the best airfares, it takes a series of... Read More

Really Cheap Plane Tickets

To begin with, the best place to buy really cheap... Read More

The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part Two

The continuation of the history of a small service franchise... Read More

China is Starting to Build Military Fighter Trainers

China is entering the jet fighter trainer business and set... Read More

Travel Tips:Tips for Safer flying

Flying can be an adventure, but like everything else in... Read More

Common Cockpit Concepts and Convenient Configurations

One of the big pushes in aviation and military is... Read More

AWACS Automated Flight Following System for Nuke Bunker Buster Accuracy

The Aerial Fire Fighting Industry uses a system called AFF... Read More

I Am Afraid Of Flying; You Are Not Getting Me A Light Plane

Boy I have heard it all from my friends. I... Read More

How to Save on Airfare

The Internet has provided a revolution in the way people... Read More

How Cheap Can You Get? Try Online for Cheap Air Tickets

Most consumers feel the airline travel is very costly. We... Read More

Do Jet Lag Diets Work?

Anti jet lag diets have been around for some time... Read More

Leading Private Jet Charter Operators

Flying with the airlines can be a time consuming as... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part III: Training Options

Time for some training! So, you are not sure what... Read More

Future Shuttle Launches

The military aircraft we have are all equipped with anti-SAM... Read More

Airline Travel Lingo! Does The Language Need An Interpreter?

With airline travel increasing in record numbers, more people are... Read More

17 Ways to Keep Safe and Secure When Flying

Here are 17 ways to keep safe and secure when... Read More

Increasing TAS in Modern Day Fighters with Expandable Wing Tips

As fighter aircraft get faster and faster there is a... Read More

The Wright Brothers

Orville and Wilbur Wright were mere bicycle mechanics, yet they... Read More

A380 Bathrooms

Bathroom seat with a view; That's right! The all-new A-380... Read More

Automated Following Jump System for Paratroopers, AFJS

There are many problems of safety in paratrooper drops. Many... Read More

A Look at Fractional Jet Ownership

We've all experienced it - the commercial flight. After a... Read More

Top Ten Secrets to Saving Big Money in the Airline Flights

Do you know that some people travel around the country... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part V: Tips on Finding Work

I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic... Read More

Group Check-in At Airports

Plan Ahead For A Smooth Check-in and FlightWhen traveling with... Read More

Travel Tips For Getting Through the Airport Easier and Quicker

Traveling is different now than it was before 9/11. Arriving... Read More

5 Tips for Stress Free Long Haul Flights

The world is becoming smaller by the day. Flying long... Read More

Tips to Finding Really Cheap Airline Tickets

Finding really cheap airline tickets onlineLooking for a really good... Read More

Fuselage Mounted Laser Vortex Enhancer Directed to Airfoils

DARPA has developed a small laser cannon, just like Star... Read More

Fighter Jet Trainers Sport Planes

You want a fighter jet as your personal aircraft; do... Read More

The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part One

Business scholars and students throughout recent periods have studied the... Read More