Search results

ON September 21st and 22nd, 1934, a conference was held in Munich by the V.L.F. (Vereinigung für Luftfahrtforschung) Committee for soaring flight. The aim of the V.L.F. is to maintain a close co‐operation between the various aeronautical research institutions and individual research workers and the aircraft industry. A number of papers on the various problems connected with the development of soaring flight were read at the conference and, with a few exceptions, they are published in this number of Luftwissen.

THIS article attempts to summarize the technical development of two‐seater sailplanes during the past thirty years. There is no attempt to contribute anything new to the art, but only to bring together information from various sources. It is also hoped that the data collected will be found useful to designers.

This paper aims to propose a spreadsheet method for modeling and simulation of a retraction system mechanism for the retractable self-launching system for a high-performance glider.

More precisely, the method is based on parametric link design using Excel spreadsheets.

This method can be used for kinematic and dynamic analysis, graphical plotting and allows simulation of control kinematics with the ability to make quick and easy parametric changes to a design. It also has the ability to calculate the loads imposed on each component in the control system as a function of input loads and position.

This paper shows that it is possible to model complex control systems quickly and easily using spreadsheet programs already owned by most small companies. The spreadsheet model is a parametric model, and it gives a simple visual presentation of the control system with interactive movement and control by the user.

This spreadsheet model in conjunction with a simple CAD program enables the rapid and cost-effective development of control system components.

Details of Electrical and Electronic Apparatus with Applications in the Maintenance and Operation of Aircraft, Missiles and Space Vehicles. The possibility of collisions between gliders and high‐speed aircraft, particularly in areas under strict radar control, is causing increasing concern to air‐traffic controllers. The Marconi Company, on behalf of the Ministry of Aviation, are currently carrying out a series of experiments aimed at reducing this danger, which is due to the inability of radar to detect reliably the very light construction of a glider.

THE Slingsby Type 37 is an unusual sailplane with many unconventional features of design and construction. It has been described, by one of the team that carried out the original test flying programme, as the first of the next generation of sailplanes.

Under this heading are published regularly abstracts of all Reports and Memoranda of the Aeronautical Research Committee, Reports and Technical Notes of the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and publications of other similar research bodies as issued

IT was, we believe, SIR HENRY TIZARD who described the 1939–45 war as a physicist's war. This was a picturesque phrase which has always remained in the memory. So far as aircraft are concerned it remains as true of peace‐time developments as it was in its wartime application when it was uttered.

IN the past ten years, prices for aviation fuel have soared — by several 100 per cent. Although at present the rise in price has lessened, fuel efficiency will in future be the major selling factor for modern civil aircraft. In addition to engines, carbon‐fibre structures, electronic guidance and control systems, an aerodynamically efficient wing will contribute to a drastic reduction in fuel costs. This can be achieved, among other things, by mastering and allying laminar flow at the wing.

This paper aims to propose a novel design concept for a biomimetic dolphin-like underwater glider, which can offer the advantages of both robotic dolphins and underwater gliders to achieve high-maneuverability, high-speed and long-distance motions.

To testify the gliding capability of dolphin-like robot without traditional internal movable masses, the authors first developed a skilled and simple dolphin-like prototype with only gliding capability. The hydrodynamic coefficients, including lift, drag and pitching moment, are obtained through computational fluid dynamics method, and the hydrodynamic analysis in the steady gliding motion is also executed.

Experimental results have shown that the dolphin-like glider could successfully glide depending on the pitching torques only from buoyancy-driven system and controllable fins without traditional internal moveable masses.

A hybrid underwater glider scheme that combines robotic dolphin and glider is firstly proposed, shedding light on the creation of innovation gliders with maneuverability and durability.

Increasing endurance was a very appropriate subject for the biomimetic approach. The study aims to design and manufacture a long-lasting mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using active gliding and soaring.

The endurance of mini UAVs is limited by battery or fuel capacity, and it is not always possible to increase these energy sources due to the fuselage size. Long endurance aircraft are required in various areas such as silent environment and traffic monitoring or search and rescue. Literature research on bird flight performance conducted to determine design parameters. These parameters are used in the theoretical design of the UAV for optimization. Computational fluid dynamics simulation and flight tests of the UAV performed to figure out the success of the design.

For a mini UAV to be produced in this class, it has been observed that it is more accurate to examine birds instead of gliders due to the size similarity. The UAV design reaches a 27.5 L/D (Glide ratio) ratio in the theoretical approach. However, flight results approved max L/D ratio is around 25 at the sea level. This flight performance is enough to outperform in glide ratio of Wandering albatrosses.

Sailplanes are known as sport aircraft. However, recent projects focus on glider designs due to fuel efficiency and silent tracking. Stemme S-14 that carries a high-resolution camera is one of the examples of these projects. The unmanned glider design can lead to these implications in the UAVs at least during the stand-by period in the air. Thanks to low weight, UAVs do not require strong thermals, which allows flying almost all over the world.

Researchers generally focus on increasing the battery capacity or the performance of the UAV. However, this study’s concentration is to increase the flight duration of the UAV by using geographical currents. For this purpose, taking advantage of bird morphology is quite a new topic. Also, glider type designs are rarely found in the field.