Flight test of flying wing aircraft controlled by dual synthetic jets at Ma0.2

Abstract

To explore the application potential of zero-mass-flux dual synthetic jets in flight control of flying wing aircraft (FWA), dual synthetic jet actuators (DSJAs) are integrated into a FWA and flight tests without deflections of rudders are firstly carried out to verify the viability of DSJAs to manipulate three-axis attitudes at a cruising speed of 70 m/s. Two active flow control methods of circulation control and reverse jet control performed by DSJAs are utilized to execute the three-axis control. Novel flight control effectors based on DSJAs are designed and achieve the integration with the FWA. Flight tests show that three-axis flight control is realized by DSJAs distributed in different locations. The maximum roll, pitch and yaw angular velocities are 10.12°/s, 6.17°/s and 8.38°/s respectively. The work initially verifies rudderless flight control ability of DSJAs at a cruising speed of 70 m/s and the control ability will be improved by the further optimization of DSJAs.