Nasa unveils Adaptive wing demonstrator

I just found this article,


www.cnn.com...

It's best described in three words: Shape. Shifting. Wings.


Those words sound like science fiction, but NASA and a company called Flexsys are developing wings that change shape in response to flight conditions and weather.


Superflexible very strong composite materials make it possible.

This week, NASA invited dozens of aerospace bloggers and social media mavens to see new aviation technology at its Armstrong Flight Research Center in California's High Desert, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.


They got an exclusive look at NASA's flexible wing project and other ongoing research aimed at aviation. They also got a chance to hang out with engineers and pilots.

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By eliminating the need for moving mechanical elements and their associated mechanisms the aitcraft can be lighter and simpler.
Throw in a hydro-mechanical or electro mechanical accutators you could really revolutionize air craft design.

You're late.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

It'll be interesting to see how testing goes though.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Darn,
Always a day late ans a dollar short.

I've been flying a variable geometry flex wing for a long time. It's also tailless. Anyone want to see a picture?
Again?

a reply to: punkinworks10

Fifteen days in a hotel with nothing else to do.

a reply to: Phage

Yes sir.

I wasn't aware you were a pilot as well!

a reply to: Phage

You fly B-1RDs?

a reply to: Zaphod58

Nope. A Wills Wing Sport II.
VG: I pull a line which changes sweep (and therefore aspect ratio). Crank it in and I get increased speed range and glide ratio. Slack it and I get better handling.

Flex wing: The whole damn thing is flexible, not just the trailing edge.

Tail: Who needs one?

Come to think of it, who needs an engine? Not me. (hee hee).

a reply to: Phage

Engine less is the way to go. I used to fly Schweizers. Good fun to fly.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yeah. But they have a tail. Don't need that.
The Horten brothers figured that out.

a reply to: Phage

Yeah, but if you can keep one of them airborne for any length of time you can fly ANYTHING. There's a reason one of our birds was called The Lead Sled.

a reply to: Zaphod58
Separates pilots from drivers, I guess.

a reply to: Phage

I fly a Airborne trike, so I'm in that tail less category too. I also have a Maxair Drifter, so I get to experience both worlds. As long as we don't tumble, we're good. Anyways, back to topic at hand. Flex wing technology has been around for awhile. I'm sure it's already been used militarily, but really I don't know. That's what Zaphod58 is here for, to fill us in on all the little secrets.

Please continue at the original thread.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Closed

~Tenth