Airfoil performance studies with a trailing edge jet flap

Abstract

This paper discusses the concept of simple blowing directly from the trailing edge of the wing of an aircraft to provide increased lift, especially during the take-off and landing maneuvers. Although a noticeable increment in coefficient of lift has been obtained to replace or even augment the effect of classic flaps, its application as a means to exert immediate and instantaneous control on stability and control would be an added benefit. Indeed, if such a concept could truly be optimized to replace the physical presence of traditional flaps in an aircraft, the benefits in weight savings and comparative simplicity in design and operational adoptability would be enormous. The jet blowing has been applied at the trailing edge of an airfoil and a 3-D wing at a variety of jet-ejection vector angles with respect to the chord line; a noticeable increase in lift has been recorded using both configurations.