Flapless Aircraft Technology

Whenever you are dealing with mechanical systems, the most frequent points of failure are in the moving parts under stress. With that in mind, British aerospace company, BAE Systems, has designed a new flight control system that eliminates a number of the more vulnerable moving parts of the aircraft in favor of blown-air technology.

Most aircraft flown today use a series of moving flaps on the wings of the aircraft to help direct the flow of air passing over and under the wings to generate the lift needed to fly and steer the plane. These moveable surfaces are an essential part of how modern aircraft fly, but they are also a key vulnverability.

If the flaps of an aircraft malfunction, the plane will not be able to steer properly which can create a very dangerous situation. In order to prevent this, the plane must be regularly and rigorously maintained to ensure that it will operate safely which adds to the overall cost of operating the aircraft.

BAE Systems in coordination with researchers at the University of Manchester (UM) believe they have found a solution to this problem with a blown-air design they call MAGMA that eliminates the need for moveable wing flaps entirely. Relying on supersonically blown-air from the engine to control the aircraft, MAGMA drastically cuts down on the number of moving parts necessary to control the aircraft.

The key to flapless air control is pushing the blown air from the engine through narrow slots around the wing’s tailing edge to control the aircraft and blowing jets of air inside the nozzle of the exhaust vent to deflect the exhaust jet itself, giving added control to the aircraft.

The goal here is for this advancement to replace more complex control surface arrangements currently dictating schemes in modern combat (and civilian) aircraft – perhaps someday eliminating the need for any control surfaces whatsoever. Furthermore, the aircraft’s thrust output is managed through a “fluidic” vector thrust control system.

In its current state, Magma exhibits a near-flying-wing planform with a general overall shape akin to an arrowhead. The vehicle also relies on blended wing-body shaping for ultimate aerodynamic efficiency. Over the rear of the body is a pair of outward-canted vertical tail fins. In a future revision of the product, the vertical tailplanes will be removed to make the air vehicle a true flying wing design. A traditional wheeled tricycle undercarriage is used for ground-running.

The aircraft is a technology demonstrator from the outset but its development will no doubt forge concepts and design approaches for future combat platforms.

-Aji Sagar Razak