Microvanes for aircraft aft body drag reduction

The invention relates a method and apparatus for reducing the drag on aircraft, particularly aircraft with an upswept afterbody. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of drag reducing elements on the fuselage of the aircraft, wherein the drag reducing elements are positioned on th...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Smith, Brian R, Maines, Brant H, Ma, Edward C, DiGirolamo, Edward A, Yagle, Patrick J
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 24.07.2012
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Summary:The invention relates a method and apparatus for reducing the drag on aircraft, particularly aircraft with an upswept afterbody. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of drag reducing elements on the fuselage of the aircraft, wherein the drag reducing elements are positioned on the fuselage from a position at the breakline of the fuselage and extending toward the tail of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments, each of the plurality of drag reducing elements is positioned such that a first end of the drag reducing element is at an angle of between approximately 15 and 35° nose up relative to the flow of air about the fuselage at the location where the drag reducing element is positioned.