The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 24, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2009
Brian R. Smith, Colleyville, TX (US);
Brant H. Maines, Colleyville, TX (US);
Edward C. MA, Houston, TX (US);
Edward A. Digirolamo, Woodstock, GA (US);
Patrick J. Yagle, Fort Worth, TX (US);
Brian R. Smith, Colleyville, TX (US);
Brant H. Maines, Colleyville, TX (US);
Edward C. Ma, Houston, TX (US);
Edward A. DiGirolamo, Woodstock, GA (US);
Patrick J. Yagle, Fort Worth, TX (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
The invention relates a method and apparatus for reducing the drag on aircraft, particularly aircraft with an upswept afterbody. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of drag reducing elements on the fuselage of the aircraft, wherein the drag reducing elements are positioned on the fuselage from a position at the breakline of the fuselage and extending toward the tail of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments, each of the plurality of drag reducing elements is positioned such that a first end of the drag reducing element is at an angle of between approximately 15 and 35° nose up relative to the flow of air about the fuselage at the location where the drag reducing element is positioned.