In a method of expanding a flight envelope of an aircraft comprising a pair of wing halves and extendable leading-edge flaps at leading wing edges of the wing halves towards higher transonic flight Mach numbers, at least one of the leading-edge flaps at one of the two wing halves is extended in flight direction, when approaching the flight envelope with increasing flight Mach number of the aircraft.

The present invention relates to a wing assembly (10) for an aircraft with a fuselage and at least one pair of wings, the wing assembly (10) defining a direction of flow (F) with respect to which the wing assembly (10) is configured to create lift for the aircraft, comprising a main section (12), which is configured to be mounted to the fuselage in a fixed manner so as to extend from the fuselage in an extension direction of the wing; and a plurality of flap sections (14) each with a body part (16), which are mounted to the main section (12) in a pivotable manner so as to be individually pivotable around a pivot axis (A) by means of a pivoting means (18) over a range of angular orientations including a horizontal orientation in which the body part (16) of the flap section (14) is substantially aligned with the main section (12) to form an elongate and substantially continuous cross-section; and a vertical orientation in which the flap section (14) is angled downwards with respect to the main section (12). The invention further relates to an aircraft equipped with at least one pair of such wing assemblies.

The present invention relates to a wing assembly (10) for an aircraft with a fuselage and at least one pair of wings, the wing assembly (10) defining a direction of flow (F) with respect to which the wing assembly (10) is configured to create lift for the aircraft, comprising a main section (12), which is configured to be mounted to the fuselage in a fixed manner so as to extend from the fuselage in an extension direction of the wing; and a plurality of flap sections (14) each with a body part (16), which are mounted to the main section (12) in a pivotable manner so as to be individually pivotable around a pivot axis (A) by means of a pivoting means (18) over a range of angular orientations including a horizontal orientation in which the body part (16) of the flap section (14) is substantially aligned with the main section (12) to form an elongate and substantially continuous cross-section; and a vertical orientation in which the flap section (14) is angled downwards with respect to the main section (12). The invention further relates to an aircraft equipped with at least one pair of such wing assemblies.

Flexural digital materials are discrete parts that can be assembled into a lattice structure to produce an actuatable structure capable of coordinated reversible spatially-distributed deformation. The structure comprises a set of discrete flexural digital material units assembled according to a lattice geometry, with a majority of the discrete units being connected, or adapted to be connected, to at least two other units according to the geometry. In response to certain types of loading of the structure, a coordinated reversible spatially-distributed deformation of at least part of the structure occurs. The deformation of the structure is due to the shape or material composition of the discrete units, the configuration of connections between the units, and/or the configuration of the lattice geometry. Exemplary types of such actuatable structures include airplane wing sections and robotic leg structures. An automated process may be employed for constructing an actuatable structure from flexural digital materials.

Flexural digital materials are discrete parts that can be assembled into a lattice structure to produce an actuatable structure capable of coordinated reversible spatially-distributed deformation. The structure comprises a set of discrete flexural digital material units assembled according to a lattice geometry, with a majority of the discrete units being connected, or adapted to be connected, to at least two other units according to the geometry. In response to certain types of loading of the structure, a coordinated reversible spatially-distributed deformation of at least part of the structure occurs. The deformation of the structure is due to the shape or material composition of the discrete units, the configuration of connections between the units, and/or the configuration of the lattice geometry. Exemplary types of such actuatable structures include airplane wing sections and robotic leg structures. An automated process may be employed for constructing an actuatable structure from flexural digital materials.

An elastomeric transition for spanning a gap between first and second surfaces on an aircraft includes an elastomeric skin. A first skin edge is configured for attachment to the first surface and a second skin edge is configured for attachment to the second surface. The elastomeric skin has a longitudinal dimension, coincident with the gap, which is significantly longer than a distance between laterally corresponding points on the first and second skin edges. At least one continuous rod is coupled at one end to a selected first point on the first surface and at another end to a selected second point, spaced apart from the first point, on the second surface. The at least one continuous rod is configured in the elastomeric transition to run along the gap such that the rod extends at an acute angle in relation to both the first and second skin edges.

An airfoil member includes an airfoil skin, a trailing edge member, a spar member extending in a lateral direction within the airfoil skin, and an airfoil member morphing device configured to modify a shape of the airfoil skin. The device includes at least one motor or actuator, an airfoil skin support sheet attached to the spar member and corrugated to define alternating upper and lower lines of contact with inner surfaces of the rearward upper skin and rearward lower skin. Actuating bands extend from the spar member through alternating upward and downward sections of the airfoil skin support sheet and are operably connected to the at least one motor or actuator. The airfoil member morphing device is configured to independently adjust a camber, twist, and chord length of the airfoil member.

An airfoil member includes an airfoil skin, a trailing edge member, a spar member extending in a lateral direction within the airfoil skin, and an airfoil member morphing device configured to modify a shape of the airfoil skin. The device includes at least one motor or actuator, an airfoil skin support sheet attached to the spar member and corrugated to define alternating upper and lower lines of contact with inner surfaces of the rearward upper skin and rearward lower skin. Actuating bands extend from the spar member through alternating upward and downward sections of the airfoil skin support sheet and are operably connected to the at least one motor or actuator. The airfoil member morphing device is configured to independently adjust a camber, twist, and chord length of the airfoil member.

One embodiment includes a rotary aircraft, including: a rotary propulsion system; a body; and a pair of wings connected on opposite sides of the body, wherein each of the wings includes a flap rotatably connected to a trailing edge thereof and configured to rotate downward relative to the wing during low speed and stationary flight of the aircraft, and to rotate upward relative to the wing during high-speed flight of the aircraft.

One embodiment includes a rotary aircraft, including: a rotary propulsion system; a body; and a pair of wings connected on opposite sides of the body, wherein each of the wings includes a flap rotatably connected to a trailing edge thereof and configured to rotate downward relative to the wing during low speed and stationary flight of the aircraft, and to rotate upward relative to the wing during high-speed flight of the aircraft.