Design aspects of long range supersonic LFC airplanes with highly swept wingsStudies on supersonic long-range LFC (laminar flow control) aircraft were performed with the aim of maximizing L/D and alleviating sonic boom during supersonic cruise. It is found that configurations with highly swept LFC wings of very high structural aspect ratio, with the sweep increasing toward the wing root and braced externally by wide chord laminarized struts, appear especially promising. In the supersonic cruise design condition the wing upper surface isobars are swept such that the flow in the direction normal to them is transonic with embedded supersonic zones and practically shock-free over most of the span, with M-perpendicular equal to the two-dimensional design values of advanced SC LFC airfoils, e.g., of the X-787 or X-6 type.
Document ID
19910039845
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pfenninger, W. (AS&M, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Vemuru, C. S. (AS&M, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)