NASA completed the first flight\u00a0test\u00a0of\u00a0a scale-model wing\u00a0designed to improve laminar flow, reducing drag\u00a0and\u00a0lowering\u00a0fuel\u00a0costs for\u00a0future commercial\u00a0aircraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The flight took place Jan. 29 at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, using\u00a0one of the agency\u2019s\u00a0F-15B research\u00a0jets.\u00a0The\u00a0NASA-designed,\u00a040-inch\u00a0Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) wing\u00a0model\u00a0was attached to the aircraft\u2019s underside vertically, like a fin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The flight lasted\u00a0about\u00a075 minutes, during which the team ensured the\u00a0aircraft\u00a0could maneuver safely in flight\u00a0with the\u00a0additional\u00a0wing\u00a0model.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was incredible to see CATNLF fly after all of the hard work the team has put into preparing,\u201d said Michelle\u00a0Banchy,\u00a0research\u00a0principal investigator for CATNLF. \u201cFinally seeing that F-15 take off and get CATNLF into the air made all that hard work worth it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA designed the CATNLF technology to improve the smooth flow of air, known as laminar flow, over swept-back\u00a0wings, used in everything from airliners to fighter jets,\u00a0by reducing disruptions that lead to drag.\u00a0Maintaining\u00a0laminar flow could help lower fuel burn and costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This flight was the first of\u00a0up to\u00a015\u00a0planned for the CATNLF series, which will test the design across a range of speeds, altitudes, and flight conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst flight was primarily focused on envelope expansion,\u201d\u00a0Banchy\u00a0said. \u201cWe needed to ensure safe dynamic behavior of the\u00a0wing model\u00a0during flight before we can proceed to research maneuvers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the flight, the team\u00a0performed\u00a0several maneuvers,\u00a0such as turns, steady holds, and gentle pitch changes, at altitudes\u00a0ranging from about 20,000 to\u00a0nearly 34,000\u00a0feet,\u00a0providing the\u00a0first look at the aerodynamic characteristics of the\u00a0wing\u00a0model\u00a0and confirming\u00a0that it is working as expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The team measured laminar flow using several tools, including an infrared camera mounted on the\u00a0aircraft\u00a0and aimed at the\u00a0wing\u00a0model\u00a0to collect thermal data during flight tests. They will use this data to confirm key aspects of the design and evaluate how effectively the\u00a0model\u00a0maintains\u00a0smooth airflow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCATNLF technology opens the door to a practical approach to getting laminar flow on large, swept components, such as a wing or tail, which offer the greatest fuel burn reduction potential,\u201d\u00a0Banchy\u00a0said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Early results showed airflow over the\u00a0aircraft\u00a0closely matched predictions made using computer models,\u00a0she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n