A laminar flow control (LFC) system for an aircraft having a port, and a starboard, LFC apparatus (fig.3,118,120) for respective aircraft structures. A control system (fig.3,126) is configured to test the LFC system whilst the aircraft is flying in a first direction by differentially operating the LFC apparatuses to change the amount of drag caused by the respective structures, measuring the effect on the direction of flight, and determining how efficiently the first and/or second LFC apparatuses are operating, the range of the aircraft may also be determined based on the efficiency. Trimming the aircraft by differentially operating the LFC apparatuses, preferably at distal ends of respective wings, is also claimed. The amount of corrective action may be measured, such as movement of a control surface or change in thrust, required to restore the flight direction to the first direction and/or to maintain the direction of flight in the first direction. A number of pairs of port and starboard LFC apparatuses may be operated in turn by the control system autonomously at predetermined times during flight. An autopilot system may initiate commands to the control system to change the direction without movement of the rudder and/or aileron.
Active drag control system for an aircraft
2021-05-12
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
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