Low noise wing slat system with a fixed wing leading edge and deployable bridging panels

摘要

Concepts and technologies described herein provide for a low noise aircraft wing slat system. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a wing slat is used in conjunction with upper and lower bridging elements to minimize airframe noise associated with a high lift system during takeoff and landing flight operations. An upper bridging element deploys from a slat or an aircraft wing during deployment of the slat for takeoff operations and creates a continuous aerodynamic surface between the slat and an upper surface of the wing leading edge to improve the airflow and reduce drag. A lower bridging element deploys from the wing during cruise flight to bridge a gap between a lower surface of a stowed leading edge slat and a lower surface of the wing. During landing operations, both upper and lower bridging elements remain stowed to optimize ambient airflow for noise abatement and lift creation.

主权项

1. A method for reducing aircraft noise associated with a high-lift system, comprising:
deploying a slat from a fixed leading edge of an aircraft wing to a takeoff position; and separately deploying an independent upper bridging element by sliding the independent upper bridging element from a stowed position to a deployed position that creates a continuous aerodynamic surface between the slat and an upper surface of the fixed leading edge of the aircraft wing, during takeoff the upper bridging element bridges a gap between the slat and the upper surface of the fixed leading edge, during cruise and landing the upper bridging element is either (1) mostly on or within the slat or (2) mostly on the wing.