this f-106 was designed in the mid-1950s
for supersonic flight
nasa's langley research center
originally used the aircraft to study
lightning by flying it directly into
thunderstorms
engineers are now using the plane for
its highly swept wing to explore a
design that incorporates a leading edge
flap an 18-inch wide panel that runs the
length of the wing and points downward
wind tunnel tests with f-106 models
indicate that installing the flap can
increase the plane's performance by more
than 20 percent
265 feet
when air passes over the wings of a
plane small tornado-like currents called
vortices are generated
again look at the wingtip of the space
shuttle as it lands
touchdown
vortices normally form along the entire
wing and are important to aircraft
because they generate lift
looking at a cross-section of the f-106
wing illustrates how lift occurs
by adding a vortex flap air is channeled
both upward and forward
according to program manager ron smith
no wings have ever been designed to make
use of this vortex but we're controlling
that vortex that tornado by putting it
on the leading edge where we form a
suction which pulls the airplane along
phil brown is chief test pilot for the
f-106 program he finds the plane much
more responsive with the flap when doing
the movements
this wing design may someday translate
into better handling qualities for
fighter aircraft as well as improvements
for high-speed transports
particularly in the
approach and landing regime where it
will reduce drag and
therefore require less thrust therefore
produce less noise because the engines
will be at lower power settings
aerodynamic research for airplane wings
is also the goal of another research
team at nasa langley
using new construction techniques planes
fly through the air easier because they
are built with smoother more aerodynamic
surfaces
as a result planes burn less fuel fly
quieter higher and at faster speeds
in an effort to better understand the
dynamics behind smooth airflow
researchers coat this ultra smooth
highly instrumented learjet wing with an
oily liquid crystal preparation
once airborne pilots target a variety of
allies
and maneuvers designated by aerospace
engineer cindy lee who sits in the back
making real-time analysis of flow fields
over the wing
cindy can also tell by looking at color
shifts in the liquid crystal whether the
airflow is smooth or turbulent she is
piecing together a series of calibrated
measurements that may someday help
aircraft manufacturers design more
aerodynamic wings
nasa's aeronautical research fine-tuning
the latest innovations to create better
airplane wings