PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR A V/STOL AIRPLANE

摘要

A propulsion system for an airplane to permit it to achieve vertical and/or short take-offs and landings. The propulsion system is integrated into a wing/nacelle unit and includes a thrust vectoring system. A separate flow turbofan engine is mounted in each wing/nacelle unit. A system of three flaps is located at the rear of each wing/nacelle unit for deflecting the turbofan engine exhaust downward, rearward, or any angle in between. These three flaps are arranged to provide a main thrust nozzle in the horizontal flight position without any additional flaps between them. One flap is located at the wing/nacelle upper surface trailing edge. Two slots are provided at the leading edge of this flap. The upper forward most slot is provided as an exit nozzle for the engine tubine exhaust, which is shrouded from the fan exhaust. The second of these two slots removes a portion of the high energy fan exhaust from the fan discharge duct and ejects is over the flap upper surface. The other two flaps are positioned such that, in the horizontal position they are both aligned with the wing/nacelle lower surface and in the vertical position, one is aligned with the wing/nacelle lower surface and the other is aligned with the wing/nacelle upper surface. When the flaps are in the vertical position, the aft most slot in the upper flap and a slot formed between the upper flap and the lower aft flap provide a means of improving the turning efficiency of the fan exhaust stream.