Lift-to-Drag Ratio Improvement of a Supersonic Transport with Leading-Edge and Trailing-Edge Flaps

Abstract

Wind tunnel tests were conducted to investigate aerodynamic characteristics of a Supersonic Transport (SST) model with leading-edge and trailing-edge flaps. Force and surface pressure measurements were performed for the SST model either with leading-edge flaps or with trailing-edge flaps deflected and for the model with all the flaps deflected. The lift-to-drag ratio (L/D) can be improved by the leading-edge flap deflection. When the trailing-edge flap is deflected modestly, the L/D is also improved. According to the measured results, the best improvement of the L/D is attained when the leading-edge and trailing-edge flaps are deflected at the same time. This paper discusses how the combination of leading-edge and trailing-edge flaps improves the wing performance.