Post by alienbeing on Sept 27, 2010 22:25:41 GMT 10
Reinvention of flight: Unmanned plane becomes first jet in the world to fly without 'flaps'
The DEMON UAV on its historic flight as it becomes the first to control its elevation using jets of air
A graphic that shows the inside of the DEMON - the first plane to use jets of air to fly
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A British unmanned plane that uses jets of air to fly instead of conventional ‘flaps’ has made aviation history.
The experimental unmanned air vehicle (UAV), called DEMON, uses blown jets of air to control the plane’s movement in flight rather than conventional mechanical elevators and ailerons.
Experts say this will make it much easier to maintain as there are far fewer moving parts and gives the aircraft a more stealthy profile.
DEMON made its historic flight at Walney Island in Cumbria on Friday 17th September and was developed by Cranfield University with BAE Systems and nine other UK universities.
DEMON’s trial flights were the first ‘flapless flights’ ever to be authorised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
All aeroplane wings have moveable sections called flaps. During takeoff and landing, the flaps are extended backwards and downwards from the trailing edge of the wings.
This alters the shape of the wing, forcing the air to take a longer journey over the top of the wing and pushing the wing up, creating lift.
The jets on the DEMON aircraft work in a different way. The plane works by manipulating the air that flows immediately next to its skin, rather than changing its shape.
Jets of air close to the trailing edge of the wing change whether the air moves away from or towards the wing. Sensors along the wing constantly monitor the airflow and can adjust the direction of the jets of air.
The DEMON has an eight-foot wingspan and weighs just 200lbs. DEMON can fly parts of its mission by itself but is not fully autonomous as it is still just an experimental vehicle.
The aircraft’s shape is known as a 'blended wing-body' configuration.
In Cumbria last Friday, DEMON successfully demonstrated flapless flight when, for a planned portion of a test-flight, the conventional flap control system was turned off and the aircraft flew and manoeuvred using the new technology.
The aircraft’s success builds on previous UAV work by BAE as part of the FLAVIIR programme.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1315570/Unmanned-jet-aircraft-world-fly-flaps.html
The DEMON UAV on its historic flight as it becomes the first to control its elevation using jets of air
A graphic that shows the inside of the DEMON - the first plane to use jets of air to fly
..........................................................................................
A British unmanned plane that uses jets of air to fly instead of conventional ‘flaps’ has made aviation history.
The experimental unmanned air vehicle (UAV), called DEMON, uses blown jets of air to control the plane’s movement in flight rather than conventional mechanical elevators and ailerons.
Experts say this will make it much easier to maintain as there are far fewer moving parts and gives the aircraft a more stealthy profile.
DEMON made its historic flight at Walney Island in Cumbria on Friday 17th September and was developed by Cranfield University with BAE Systems and nine other UK universities.
DEMON’s trial flights were the first ‘flapless flights’ ever to be authorised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
All aeroplane wings have moveable sections called flaps. During takeoff and landing, the flaps are extended backwards and downwards from the trailing edge of the wings.
This alters the shape of the wing, forcing the air to take a longer journey over the top of the wing and pushing the wing up, creating lift.
The jets on the DEMON aircraft work in a different way. The plane works by manipulating the air that flows immediately next to its skin, rather than changing its shape.
Jets of air close to the trailing edge of the wing change whether the air moves away from or towards the wing. Sensors along the wing constantly monitor the airflow and can adjust the direction of the jets of air.
The DEMON has an eight-foot wingspan and weighs just 200lbs. DEMON can fly parts of its mission by itself but is not fully autonomous as it is still just an experimental vehicle.
The aircraft’s shape is known as a 'blended wing-body' configuration.
In Cumbria last Friday, DEMON successfully demonstrated flapless flight when, for a planned portion of a test-flight, the conventional flap control system was turned off and the aircraft flew and manoeuvred using the new technology.
The aircraft’s success builds on previous UAV work by BAE as part of the FLAVIIR programme.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1315570/Unmanned-jet-aircraft-world-fly-flaps.html