Proposed active flow control enabled hybrid tilt propeller/tilt wing aircraft
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 17 March 2023
Issue publication date: 24 April 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to address shortcomings of current tiltrotor designs, such as the small aspect ratio of the wings, large download and the close proximity of the rotor tips. It also aims to avoid the complex transition of tiltrotors to normal airplane mode.
Design/methodology/approach
This design combines tiltrotor and tiltwing aircraft designs into a hybrid that is augmented by active flow control, using a gimbaled channel wing for attitude control in hover.
Findings
The proposed hybrid design is based on experimental results of components that were tested individually for potential use in hover and steep ascend from a stationary position.
Originality/value
This research was inspired by the extremely short take-off of the V-22, when its rotors were tilted forward. It combines several design approaches in a unique way to achieve extremely short take-off capabilities combined with high-speed and reduced maintenance costs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Jean Delery for inviting him. Wygnanski to the 3AF conference whenever the topic of the conference was aligned with his research activities. This paper is a direct outcome of the 2022 conference in Toulouse.
Citation
Taubert, L., Kay, G., Wygnanski, I. and Ol, M. (2023), "Proposed active flow control enabled hybrid tilt propeller/tilt wing aircraft", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 1513-1527. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-11-2022-0653
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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