The Boeing Company

Michael F Fitzpatrick

Seiya Sakurai

Neal Van Huynh

Stephen John Fox

Paul M Vijgen

Douglas S Lacy

Kevin W Beyer

Stephen L Wells

Clayton A Prow

Jack S Noble

Paul T Meredith

Robert W Burnham

Edward W Gronenthal

Dennis A Muilenberg

Paul L Johnson

Russell R Christianson

Laurence B Trollen

Joseph K Schoebelen

Trailing edge devices configured to carry out multiple functions, and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed. An external fluid flow body (e.g., an airfoil) configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a first portion and a second portion, at least a part of the second portion being positioned aft of the first portion, with the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a neutral position, a plurality of upward positions, and a plurality of downward positions. A guide structure can be coupled between the first and second portions, and an actuator can be operatively coupled between the first and second portions to move the second portion relative to the first portion. In one embodiment, a flexible surface can track the motion of the second portion and can expose a gap at some positions. In another embodiment, a controller can be coupled to the actuator and can be configured to direct the actuator to move the second portion to a high lift setting, a high drag setting, a roll setting, and a trim setting. In yet another embodiment, trailing edge devices on an airfoil can have scaled, mechanically similar guide structures.

Multi-function trailing edge devices and associated methods

A modular approach to the manufacture of high performance military aircraft allows different aircraft to be manufactured at affordable cost and with high part number commonality. An aircraft so constructed includes a delta wing; a forebody section, including a cockpit, which is mounted to the front of the wing; and a propulsion system support frame mounted beneath the forebody section and the underside of the wing. The propulsion system is supported within this frame. The aircraft can also include an aftbody section mounted to the aft end of the wing, which includes a 2-D variable thrust vectoring nozzle and a pair of canted vertical tails. The forebody section includes a chin inlet below the cockpit. The wing is preferably constructed using thermoplastic welding.

Multi-service common airframe-based aircraft

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Michael F Fitzpatrick