1 00:00:00,734 --> 00:00:04,170 >>Flashing across California desert skies, the airplanes you see 2 00:00:04,170 --> 00:00:08,274 here are writing new chapters in the story of man made flight....there she goes! 3 00:00:08,274 --> 00:00:12,812 >>This is my first opportunity to greet you as deputy administrator 4 00:00:12,812 --> 00:00:16,483 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 5 00:00:16,816 --> 00:00:19,452 >>Together, you and I must make our new agency 6 00:00:19,452 --> 00:00:20,787 >>A most unusual place 7 00:00:20,820 --> 00:00:23,656 >>An organization that can challenge conventional wisdom. 8 00:00:23,656 --> 00:00:27,260 >>We can engineer anything we can write the requirements for. 9 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:28,661 >>We're going to make your idea work. 10 00:00:28,661 --> 00:00:31,231 This particular idea is quite disruptive. 11 00:00:31,898 --> 00:00:36,169 >>A typical flight, of course, starts under the wing of the B-52 mothership. 12 00:00:36,336 --> 00:00:41,775 >>This sleek, high speed machine would have made Rube Goldberg proud. 13 00:00:41,908 --> 00:00:44,778 >>The manner in which we fly reentry from space, 14 00:00:44,778 --> 00:00:48,782 on the space shuttle was pioneered on the X-15. 15 00:00:48,782 --> 00:00:54,387 >>The X-31 pretty much wrote the book on thurst vectoring, along with its sister program, the F-18 HARV. 16 00:00:54,387 --> 00:00:56,556 >>An observation of an occulation is 17 00:00:56,556 --> 00:00:59,526 one of the more challenging missions that SOFIA can do. 18 00:01:00,326 --> 00:01:19,512 [Music/Background sound] 19 00:01:20,346 --> 00:01:24,717 >>Right now, we are looking at the dawn of a new era of aviation. 20 00:01:27,754 --> 00:01:32,092 [Music/Background sound] 21 00:01:39,933 --> 00:01:41,067 >>Can we get a fuel call? 22 00:01:41,067 --> 00:01:43,703 >>5.4... 23 00:01:43,837 --> 00:01:45,605 [Music/Background noise] 24 00:01:45,872 --> 00:01:50,143 >>Pollution was always something we saw close up or not at all, 25 00:01:50,710 --> 00:01:55,849 until the National Aeronautics and Space Administration gave us a global view 26 00:01:55,849 --> 00:01:57,150 from high above. 27 00:01:57,150 --> 00:01:59,652 >>As the world's population continues to grow, 28 00:02:00,253 --> 00:02:05,258 our need to use our natural resources wisely becomes more apparent and urgent. 29 00:02:05,825 --> 00:02:09,529 >>We're in an energy crisis now and will be for some time to come. 30 00:02:09,863 --> 00:02:13,399 >>Attention all passengers, flight 307 is cancelled until further notice. 31 00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:17,437 >>We must change if we're going to have the energy we need 32 00:02:17,437 --> 00:02:18,705 >>Until very recently, 33 00:02:18,705 --> 00:02:21,941 the priorities of aviation science have remained unchanged. 34 00:02:21,941 --> 00:02:26,112 Only in the 1970s have the need for greater efficiency of men and machines 35 00:02:26,112 --> 00:02:30,049 led to new and revised priorities for aviation researchers. 36 00:02:30,316 --> 00:02:34,254 >>A new airfoil shape called the supercritical wing is being flight 37 00:02:34,254 --> 00:02:37,657 tested aboard an extensively modified F-8 jet aircraft. 38 00:02:37,957 --> 00:02:40,860 Almost the direct opposite of conventional air foil shapes, 39 00:02:41,394 --> 00:02:44,030 the supercritical wing has a flattened top surface- 40 00:02:44,297 --> 00:02:48,067 >>The new shape weakens the shockwave that normally builds on top 41 00:02:48,067 --> 00:02:49,836 of conventional wings during flight, 42 00:02:49,836 --> 00:02:52,172 >>allowing the aircraft to fly faster, 43 00:02:52,305 --> 00:02:54,941 more smoothly and at lower operating costs. 44 00:02:55,241 --> 00:02:58,978 >>And that concept ended up making a significant contribution 45 00:02:58,978 --> 00:03:03,349 the supercritical wings are today used on almost every transport manufactured. 46 00:03:03,883 --> 00:03:08,688 >>We had the supercricial wing F-111, which did supercritical wing demonstration. 47 00:03:10,523 --> 00:03:11,191 >>The wings may be 48 00:03:11,191 --> 00:03:15,028 adjusted to various angles to achieve optimum performance at different speeds. 49 00:03:15,261 --> 00:03:20,099 >>Studies indicate that if the design features of the oblique wing were applied 50 00:03:20,099 --> 00:03:23,903 to full size jets, it would give them increased fuel economy. 51 00:03:24,137 --> 00:03:26,372 >>The piloted version is now being built. 52 00:03:26,372 --> 00:03:27,707 >>The AD-1: 53 00:03:28,007 --> 00:03:29,576 During takeoff and landing, 54 00:03:29,576 --> 00:03:33,112 the wing can be positioned at right angles to the body for maximum lift. 55 00:03:33,746 --> 00:03:35,882 But as the aircraft picks up speed, 56 00:03:36,649 --> 00:03:39,152 the wing can be pivoted to cut down drag 57 00:03:39,652 --> 00:03:41,754 and therefore fuel usage. 58 00:03:41,754 --> 00:03:42,956 [Music/Airplane flying] 59 00:03:42,956 --> 00:03:47,293 Another project geared to improve aerodynamic efficiency was winglets 60 00:03:47,694 --> 00:03:51,231 engineers modified this KC-135 transport 61 00:03:51,231 --> 00:03:54,133 by mounting vertical extensions on its wingtips. 62 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:58,338 >>These winglets act to increase lift and lower drag. 63 00:03:58,338 --> 00:04:00,340 >>Winglets cut wind resistance. 64 00:04:00,974 --> 00:04:05,979 NASA's scientists developed the advanced winglet technology to cut wing drag, 65 00:04:06,379 --> 00:04:09,916 thereby increasing air speed and cutting fuel consumption. 66 00:04:10,350 --> 00:04:14,287 >>Dryden researchers are using an F-111 to study ways of developing 67 00:04:14,287 --> 00:04:18,324 more efficient wing shapes. In the natural laminar flow experiment, 68 00:04:18,391 --> 00:04:21,027 they modified the plane’s outer wing panels. 69 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,632 This new wing shape eliminated turbulent air flow over much of the wing surface. 70 00:04:27,333 --> 00:04:29,202 >>For functional versatility, 71 00:04:29,202 --> 00:04:32,805 one of the most promising ideas tested here is the tilt rotor. 72 00:04:33,106 --> 00:04:38,144 >>The XV-15 research aircraft combines the vertical take off capability 73 00:04:38,144 --> 00:04:43,983 of the helicopter with the speed, range and fuel economy of a turboprop airplane. 74 00:04:44,617 --> 00:04:48,054 These types of aircraft use less room for takeoff and landing 75 00:04:48,254 --> 00:04:52,592 and keep noise and air pollution lower than our present commercial planes. 76 00:04:52,592 --> 00:04:54,294 [Truck driving] 77 00:04:54,294 --> 00:04:56,362 >With the continuing fuel problems, 78 00:04:56,362 --> 00:04:59,599 engineers are attempting to make the big trucks more efficient. 79 00:05:00,233 --> 00:05:04,003 It's believed that both trucks and recreational vehicles can be made more 80 00:05:04,003 --> 00:05:05,638 economical to operate. 81 00:05:05,638 --> 00:05:08,641 >>Means of achieving aerodynamic efficiency on aircraft 82 00:05:08,641 --> 00:05:11,577 isn't that different than it is on automobiles and trucks. 83 00:05:11,878 --> 00:05:15,815 >>Starting with a small delivery van, Ed Saltzman and his team of engineers 84 00:05:15,815 --> 00:05:17,850 reshaped the vehicle with sheet metal. 85 00:05:18,217 --> 00:05:21,354 >>The aerodynamic improvements that we've experienced so far 86 00:05:21,654 --> 00:05:26,459 are translatable into 15%, perhaps 20%, savings in fuel. 87 00:05:26,492 --> 00:05:30,263 >>The researchers are hopeful as they continue to apply aerodynamic 88 00:05:30,263 --> 00:05:33,833 techniques to help solve a ground transportation problem. 89 00:05:36,836 --> 00:05:38,137 >>During the 1970s 90 00:05:38,137 --> 00:05:41,908 in the aviation field, fuel rose from the least expensive 91 00:05:41,908 --> 00:05:45,678 operating costs for commercial airlines to the most expensive. 92 00:05:45,945 --> 00:05:49,415 By 1979, the cost of fuel quadrupled. 93 00:05:49,615 --> 00:05:53,419 [Music/Background noise] 94 00:05:53,753 --> 00:05:56,789 >>A digital fly-by-wire flight control system 95 00:05:57,023 --> 00:06:01,227 crucial to automation of the X-Wing’s flight mode, conversion and circulation 96 00:06:01,227 --> 00:06:05,832 control aerodynamics has reached the laboratory test phase. 97 00:06:05,832 --> 00:06:11,604 >>Has the dream of combining the best attributes of both helicopter and airplane been realized? 98 00:06:11,938 --> 00:06:14,974 >>The X-Wing system will begin flight tests later 99 00:06:14,974 --> 00:06:18,378 this year to investigate advanced rotor concepts. 100 00:06:18,711 --> 00:06:23,116 Its broad range of mission capabilities capitalize on its ability 101 00:06:23,216 --> 00:06:27,053 to combine the unique hovering qualities of a helicopter 102 00:06:27,453 --> 00:06:30,890 with the high cruise speed and range of an airplane. 103 00:06:32,091 --> 00:06:34,727 >>The F-14 variable-sweep transition flight experiment 104 00:06:34,761 --> 00:06:38,464 was originated to obtain accurate in-flight measurements of the boundary 105 00:06:38,464 --> 00:06:42,001 layer transition location for wing airfoil pressure gradients, 106 00:06:42,068 --> 00:06:45,171 the wing panels of the F-14 were modified to maintain laminar 107 00:06:45,171 --> 00:06:47,140 flow to a significant extent. 108 00:06:47,140 --> 00:06:49,142 [Music/Background noise] 109 00:06:49,142 --> 00:06:52,311 >>Because of the energy crisis, I was working on the Jetstar, 110 00:06:52,378 --> 00:06:56,282 we took the wing tanks off the Jetstar and we put an experiment 111 00:06:56,282 --> 00:06:59,685 for laminar flow control, this was like subsonic laminar flow control. 112 00:06:59,886 --> 00:07:03,990 >>Birds change the shape of their wings according to various flight conditions, 113 00:07:04,590 --> 00:07:08,895 >>The ideal wing would have a smooth contour, upper surface 114 00:07:09,562 --> 00:07:14,267 and be able to rapidly and precisely change its shape to provide 115 00:07:14,267 --> 00:07:17,837 minimum drag for the amount of lift being commanded by the pilot. 116 00:07:18,371 --> 00:07:22,241 The Wright brothers and their Wright Flier also used wing warping, 117 00:07:22,308 --> 00:07:25,711 so the idea is not new, it's just that the technology 118 00:07:25,711 --> 00:07:29,382 has now developed to the point where it is practical. 119 00:07:29,715 --> 00:07:32,084 >>This is the Mission Adaptive Wing. 120 00:07:33,019 --> 00:07:37,323 This flexibility is possible because we now have composite materials 121 00:07:37,690 --> 00:07:41,260 that will withstand nearly continuous bending without fatiguing 122 00:07:41,694 --> 00:07:45,331 and lightweight digital computers that can operate at speeds 123 00:07:45,331 --> 00:07:47,166 sufficient to control the wing. 124 00:07:47,166 --> 00:07:48,968 Through in-flight contour changes, 125 00:07:49,268 --> 00:07:53,206 internal mechanisms bend flexible leading and trailing edge surfaces 126 00:07:53,539 --> 00:07:56,642 to the appropriate curvatures required to maintain 127 00:07:56,642 --> 00:07:59,712 the optimal aerodynamic effectiveness at all times. 128 00:08:00,780 --> 00:08:02,682 The Mission Adaptive Wing: 129 00:08:02,682 --> 00:08:06,819 An attractive technology for future military aircraft. 130 00:08:07,119 --> 00:08:10,189 >>It's really the first time that a wing could actually provide 131 00:08:10,223 --> 00:08:13,392 optimum performance throughout a very large part of the flight envelope. 132 00:08:14,327 --> 00:08:19,265 >>The C-140 Jetstar currently is test flying an advanced propeller model, 133 00:08:19,398 --> 00:08:23,302 which should lead to considerable fuel savings in future aircraft. 134 00:08:24,103 --> 00:08:27,673 >>Basically, a forward-swept wing design is potentially more efficient 135 00:08:27,673 --> 00:08:29,609 in the transonic speed regime. 136 00:08:29,609 --> 00:08:32,712 The forward-swept wing has a supercritical cross-section 137 00:08:33,079 --> 00:08:37,450 about one third the thickness of a typical supercritical wing...a discreet 138 00:08:37,450 --> 00:08:40,953 variable camber device is installed on the trailing edge of the wing. 139 00:08:44,891 --> 00:08:47,860 Set back on the fuselage, the forward-swept wing 140 00:08:47,860 --> 00:08:51,697 configuration also affords a more flexible payload distribution, 141 00:08:52,265 --> 00:08:55,234 which makes for a smaller, lighter aircraft. 142 00:08:55,968 --> 00:08:58,404 Tactically tougher to see. 143 00:08:58,404 --> 00:09:02,575 Economically less costly to build, operate and support. 144 00:09:02,575 --> 00:09:05,811 [Music/F-16s taking off] 145 00:09:05,811 --> 00:09:07,446 >>The F-16 XL aircraft 146 00:09:07,446 --> 00:09:11,384 is uniquely characterized by its large cranked arrow wing. 147 00:09:11,484 --> 00:09:15,688 The aircraft can be used by NASA as testbeds to evaluate aerodynamic 148 00:09:15,688 --> 00:09:20,493 concepts designed to improve wing airflow during sustained supersonic flight. 149 00:09:20,860 --> 00:09:23,729 >>We know that we can get laminar flow an inch or so back. 150 00:09:23,763 --> 00:09:24,830 Now we're trying to maintain it 151 00:09:24,830 --> 00:09:28,234 further aft, and in order to maintain the laminar flow further aft, we have to 152 00:09:28,634 --> 00:09:31,971 come up with some method of augmentation and that's why we're using 153 00:09:32,238 --> 00:09:35,975 suction, to actually pull the boundary layer back down and 154 00:09:36,042 --> 00:09:37,109 re-laminarize the boundary layer. 155 00:09:37,109 --> 00:09:39,645 >>We’ve actually perforated the surface of the wing 156 00:09:39,812 --> 00:09:42,348 with millions of microscopic holes, 157 00:09:42,715 --> 00:09:46,986 and we suck a portion of the airflow away from the wing to help keep it stable. 158 00:09:47,153 --> 00:09:50,056 >>If you maintain laminar flow for a larger distance, 159 00:09:50,056 --> 00:09:51,991 you can reduce the drag of an air foil. 160 00:09:51,991 --> 00:09:54,860 If you can reduce the drag, you can increase your fuel efficiency. 161 00:09:54,860 --> 00:09:58,564 If you can increase your fuel efficiency, you can increase your payload capability. 162 00:09:59,131 --> 00:10:01,200 And you know, it's just a whole raft of things 163 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,369 that come out of being able to maintain laminar flow. 164 00:10:05,938 --> 00:10:07,340 >>Ailerons are normally used 165 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:10,443 to roll the aircraft, which is then used to turn the aircraft. 166 00:10:10,643 --> 00:10:11,978 We intend to use only 167 00:10:11,978 --> 00:10:16,382 the outboard ailerons and move them together, both up or both down 168 00:10:16,649 --> 00:10:20,853 to change the tailoring of the wings so as to optimize the flow characteristics. 169 00:10:20,853 --> 00:10:26,392 [Music/Background noise] 170 00:10:26,392 --> 00:10:28,060 >>I can deflect the inboard section 171 00:10:28,060 --> 00:10:31,330 downwards while deflecting the outward section upwards. 172 00:10:31,731 --> 00:10:35,201 This will create an unbalanced force on the wing, thereby 173 00:10:35,201 --> 00:10:39,372 twisting the structure in a new way- different than we've seen before. 174 00:10:39,639 --> 00:10:42,675 >>These morphing structures of the future are likely going to be able 175 00:10:42,675 --> 00:10:45,911 to sense the environment and adapt, change their shape 176 00:10:46,212 --> 00:10:48,314 to particular flight conditions. 177 00:10:48,314 --> 00:10:50,149 >>The designer will be able to take material out, 178 00:10:50,149 --> 00:10:53,953 make the wing thinner , and it makes it a more efficient wing. 179 00:10:54,787 --> 00:10:57,623 >>This is a project that's trying to see 180 00:10:57,623 --> 00:11:01,727 if there's an advantage to flying two or more aircraft in formation, 181 00:11:01,727 --> 00:11:03,262 much like flocks of birds. 182 00:11:04,263 --> 00:11:06,699 >>Every wing creates a wingtip vortex. 183 00:11:06,766 --> 00:11:09,902 And if you can put your airplane on the part that's going up, 184 00:11:10,436 --> 00:11:12,338 then it's just like riding a wave at the beach. 185 00:11:12,338 --> 00:11:15,975 >>The lead aircraft signals its position to the follower with a wireless modem. 186 00:11:16,042 --> 00:11:18,010 You couldn't do this without fly-by-wire. 187 00:11:18,010 --> 00:11:19,745 The vortex can be so strong 188 00:11:19,745 --> 00:11:22,615 that a conventional flight control system, it'll flip you out. 189 00:11:22,615 --> 00:11:26,519 >>But it's a high energy source, and if we can properly map 190 00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:28,020 it and know where it is 191 00:11:28,020 --> 00:11:29,922 and then use that energy to our advantage... 192 00:11:29,922 --> 00:11:32,291 >>We're expecting to extract out 193 00:11:32,558 --> 00:11:35,961 a 10% drag reduction, at least a 10% drag reduction... 194 00:11:36,962 --> 00:11:40,499 >>It's one of the first times that this has ever been tried with a civilian airplane. 195 00:11:40,499 --> 00:11:43,836 >>What we wanted to expand was to use production 196 00:11:43,836 --> 00:11:46,972 autopilots, the FAA mandated data link... 197 00:11:47,306 --> 00:11:48,474 >>Let's go ahead and try to step in 198 00:11:48,474 --> 00:11:49,542 toward the wake... 199 00:11:49,542 --> 00:11:52,411 >>...ways that you can improve the efficiency of vehicles 200 00:11:52,411 --> 00:11:54,113 by not changing the vehicles at all, 201 00:11:54,113 --> 00:11:57,950 but by changing how we use them, or operational efficiencies. 202 00:11:58,117 --> 00:11:58,751 Even if you didn't 203 00:11:58,751 --> 00:12:01,821 want to fly in the wake, if you wanted to, for instance, avoid the wake, 204 00:12:01,821 --> 00:12:04,690 you could still fly closer than what is currently allowed. 205 00:12:04,690 --> 00:12:06,559 [Music/Background noise] 206 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:11,130 >>BWB is a combination between a regular aircraft and a flying wing 207 00:12:11,363 --> 00:12:14,467 >>It actually has a lower drag than a conventional aircraft. 208 00:12:15,601 --> 00:12:18,237 >>It's like a hybrid car compared to a regular car. 209 00:12:18,270 --> 00:12:21,841 You're getting 20 to 30% better fuel efficiency. 210 00:12:22,808 --> 00:12:26,479 >>By understanding boundary layer transition, we can increase our understanding 211 00:12:26,479 --> 00:12:27,780 and our predictive capability 212 00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:31,217 for all types of aircraft, both for civil and for military aircraft. 213 00:12:31,917 --> 00:12:34,386 >>People take it for granted nowadays that an airplane needs a rudder 214 00:12:34,386 --> 00:12:36,455 in order to turn. Think of every bird you've ever seen. 215 00:12:36,455 --> 00:12:37,757 None of them have rudders. 216 00:12:37,757 --> 00:12:41,994 The PRANDTL-D aircraft is designed with a certain twist in its wing... 217 00:12:42,027 --> 00:12:43,796 >>...a different lift distribution, 218 00:12:43,796 --> 00:12:45,364 >>... a new span load on the wings. 219 00:12:45,397 --> 00:12:48,501 >>What we're really looking for is the positive correlation 220 00:12:48,501 --> 00:12:50,536 between roll and yaw. 221 00:12:50,536 --> 00:12:52,371 >>PRANDTL does not need winglets, 222 00:12:52,371 --> 00:12:54,507 It does not need a vertical tail... 223 00:12:54,573 --> 00:12:56,809 >>...and there's only two control surfaces. 224 00:12:56,809 --> 00:12:59,945 The design of PRANDTL minimizes drag. 225 00:13:00,946 --> 00:13:02,248 >>This doesn't have any hinges. 226 00:13:02,248 --> 00:13:05,384 It just bends. It morphs itself, if you will, sort of like a bird flies. 227 00:13:05,384 --> 00:13:08,687 >>The efficiency of this technology is very significant, 228 00:13:08,821 --> 00:13:10,689 and it results in a fuel savings up 229 00:13:10,689 --> 00:13:13,392 to hundreds of millions of dollars of fuel savings a year. 230 00:13:13,392 --> 00:13:15,060 [Music/Background noise] 231 00:13:15,060 --> 00:13:17,863 >>A traditional wing has one flap and one aileron per wing. 232 00:13:17,997 --> 00:13:21,534 We broke those up into segments and that allows us to reshape the load 233 00:13:21,534 --> 00:13:25,104 using localized input or small inputs rather than the whole control surface. 234 00:13:25,771 --> 00:13:29,909 >>We'd like to develop some research that can be used to minimize the amount 235 00:13:29,909 --> 00:13:33,245 that structures deflect, minimize the amount that structures vibrate. 236 00:13:34,113 --> 00:13:37,583 >>It's in an attempt to redistribute the load into a more favorable configuration. 237 00:13:37,817 --> 00:13:40,953 That configuration will allow for lighter weight structures in the future. 238 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:42,688 >>The first step towards wing 239 00:13:42,688 --> 00:13:46,225 shape control is knowing what the position of that wing is 240 00:13:46,592 --> 00:13:49,929 so that can be fed into a control system to then control the shape. 241 00:13:50,429 --> 00:13:54,433 >>Conventional sensor technology allows you to make a measurement every several feet. 242 00:13:55,034 --> 00:13:55,968 The FOSS technology 243 00:13:55,968 --> 00:13:59,672 allows you to have a sensor every quarter inch along a single optical fiber 244 00:14:00,272 --> 00:14:04,343 that allows you to look more and more like a biological system. If you can save 245 00:14:04,343 --> 00:14:07,613 a few pounds of instrumentation mass or lead wire mass, 246 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,783 that's more fuel and less cost. 247 00:14:11,150 --> 00:14:14,019 That fiber can remain on the vehicle throughout its life. 248 00:14:14,086 --> 00:14:18,691 >>Now, aircraft are taken out of service and maintenance inspections are being 249 00:14:18,991 --> 00:14:21,527 applied to that at given intervals. 250 00:14:21,694 --> 00:14:24,830 Wouldn't it be better to take an aircraft out of service 251 00:14:25,030 --> 00:14:30,169 when your management computer has told you that it's time for service, and here’s why? 252 00:14:30,169 --> 00:14:33,072 The FOSS is capable of measuring critical parameters 253 00:14:33,072 --> 00:14:38,310 such as temperature, strain, liquid level, loads and deflection, 254 00:14:38,611 --> 00:14:42,781 >>I believe can really revolutionize the way we do our business in aerospace. 255 00:14:42,781 --> 00:14:47,152 And it has that spillover effect that can go into other types of industries 256 00:14:47,453 --> 00:14:50,990 like oil and gas, ship building and health monitoring, high rise