GB592264A - All-wing airplane - Google Patents

Abstract

592,264. Tailless aircraft. NORTHROP AIRCRAFT, Inc. Feb. 26, 1944, Nos. 3603 and 3604. Convention dates, April 3, 1940, and June 10, 1940. [Class 4] A tailless aircraft comprises a generally triangular plan form wing 5 of relatively thick central aerofoil section, the halves of the wing having lines of centre of pressure 15, which are swept back from root to tip, substantial taper in thickness and plan form, and are disposed at a positive dihedral angle, the sections. of each half having a substantially symmetrical basic wing profiles of substantially zero centre of pressure movement, and the chords of said sections progressively decreasing in angle of attack from root to tip. In the embodiment illustrated the wing tips 3 are deflected downwardly at a negative dihedral angle of approximately - 30 degrees to the horizontal. Control surfaces include inboard flaps 51, elevens 53, and outboard flaps 55 on the downturned wing tips serving as ailerons and rudders. The engine shafts carry fans 36 which draw air through slots 37 in the upper wing surface for supply to radiators 39. The slots 37 are placed at from 50 to 70 per cent of the chord from the leading edge where the boundary layer commences to build up at the commencement of stall, so that removal of the boundary layer delays stalling. A tricycle undercarriage 20, 21, is provided, together with a tail skid 23 which serves to house a rear machine gun 27. The central section 17 of the leading edge is of transparent material to form a windscreen, and a small window 19 in the trailing edge provides rearward visibility. Specification 1784/11, [Class 4], is referred to.