Aircraft with synchronically deployed wings

Abstract

jetpump rotor rates were used in this evaluation of its flight performance. A three-degree-of-freedom flight performance analyses code was used to predict maximum range and endurance of the ring wing and baseline vehicles. For simplicity, only relative underwater flight performance factors are shown in Fig. 3. The torpedo design with the novel tails significantly improves its range and endurance. These gains are further enhanced for the case of the novel wing and wraparound tails torpedo design. Also, it was estimated that this innovative torpedo design would provide the needed lift (1600 Ib) for sustaining underwater level flight of this heavyweight vehicle at considerably reduced speeds (less than 10 kn). In addition, jetpump rotor rates needed to sustain the indicated low speeds are largely reduced. Consequently, propulsive as well as body noise generation can be significantly reduced because of the favorable hydrodynamic lifting characteristics of the novel torpedo surfaces that permit reduced speeds while maintaining equilibrium flight. As the speed of the torpedo is reduced, turbulent boundary-layer velocity fluctuations and pressure perturbations as well as vortex shedding contributions to noise intensity are largely alleviated.