A vertical stabilizer for an aircraft having a fixed portion 14 for attachment to an aircraft fuselage 4 and a moveable portion 16 coupled to the fixed portion by a hinge 18, allowing it to fold with respect to the fixed portion. The moveable portion of the vertical stabilizer is able to rotate about the hinge. As gusts of wind act on the moveable portion of the vertical stabilizer, the moveable portion rotates about the hinge preventing any loading due to the gusts being transferred onto the aircraft fuselage, thereby providing gust load alleviation. The hinge is preferably inclined at an angle of at least 15 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft fuselage. The hinge may be positioned outboard of a span of the vertical stabiliser. The hinge may be a semi-passive hinge. The vertical stabiliser may comprise an actuator able to move the moveable portion relative to the fixed portion.
Vertical stabilizer for an aircraft
2019-12-18
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge |