An aircraft has a structure at least part of which is capable of generating aerodynamic lift, for example a wing 2. A body having a mass, for example a fuel tank, engine, landing gear, wing tip device or payload, 11 is movably mounted to a portion of the structure by an active support 20. The active support includes an actuator 21 to move the body relative to the portion of the structure, and a controller 22 for controlling movement of the actuator in response to a dynamic input. The active support provides a range of movement for the body in at least one degree of freedom. The actuator moves the body across the entire range of movement in that one degree of freedom in a time period of less than 3 seconds. The actuator moves the body sufficiently rapidly to generate an inertial force that is equal to or greater than any aerodynamic force generated by the body during that movement of the body. The active support may be used to reduce loads on the aircraft structure.
Aircraft with active support
2019-06-12
Patent
Electronic Resource
English