First flight for 'flapless' plane - the Evolution of Aviation

Hi all

Just noticed this story about a test flight which occured in the UK over the past few days...

It is of an experimental aircraft, designed by BAE inconjunction with several UK universities.

The aircraft is called 'Demon' and it had to get special authorization for the test flight because the flight involved using small directional jets of air instead of flaps, aierlons or elevators whilst in flight.......

Might not appear much initially but the applcations for both military and civil aviation are quite big...

Have a look at the accompanying video and story....

www.bbc.co.uk...

Cheers

PDUK

Appears to be highly maneuverable.

Maybe a bit radical for a piloted aircraft, but seems to be well suited for a combat drone.

reply to post by PurpleDog UK

That's a pretty sketchy story. It doesn't even say what makes the jets of air. You'd think they could show a picture of whatever it is that makes the jets that replaces the flaps?

reply to post by Arbitrageur


Its gonna be like BF LA.

YOu know the Alien ships that were owning everything in the sky.... They used a similar system for manuvering.

Is this the one ?
www.baesystems.com...


the aircraft is an 80kg, jet-powered UAS with a wing span of 2.7 metres destined for use on future unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
More drones ,there wont be anything left for humans to do in the future ,starting now

Originally posted by Arbitrageur
reply to post by PurpleDog UK

 

That's a pretty sketchy story. It doesn't even say what makes the jets of air. You'd think they could show a picture of whatever it is that makes the jets that replaces the flaps?

From the description, it appears to be a modern evolution of 'blown flaps'. Bleed air from the jetengine is pumped out through jets in the trailing edge of the wing. If you have jets on both upper and lower surface that can be redirected up/down, you can use air to deflect air, which acts as ailerons or flaps.

Very interesting, indeed.