The ability of modern aircraft surfaces to achieve laminar flow was well-accepted in recent years. Obtaining the maximum benefit of laminar flow for aircraft drag reduction requires maintaining minimum leading-edge contamination. Previously proposed insect contamination prevention methods have proved impractical due to cost, weight, or inconvenience. Past work has shown that insects will not adhere to water-wetted surfaces, but the large volumes of water required for protection rendered such a system impractical. The results of a flight experiment conducted by NASA to evaluate the performance of a porous leading-edge fluid discharge ice protection system operated as an insect contamination protections system are presented. In addition, these flights explored the environmental and atmospheric conditions most suitable for insect accumulation.
Insect Contamination Protection for Laminar Flow Surfaces
1986
18 pages
Report
No indication
English
Aircraft , Contamination , Fluid injection , Insects , Laminar flow , Leading edges , Protection , Wings , Drag reduction , Flow velocity , Geometry , Moisture , Temperature , Wind velocity
Flight Evaluation of an Insect Contamination Protection System for Laminar Flow Wings
SAE Technical Papers | 1985
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