Issued patent
New Wing Design Exponentially Increases Total Aircraft Efficiency
An issued NASA patent from the Technology Transfer catalog.
About this technology
Overview
Innovators at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center are experimenting with a new wing design that removes adverse yaw and dramatically increases aircraft efficiency by reducing drag. Known as the PRANDTL-D wing, this design addresses integrated bending moments and lift to achieve a 12 percent drag reduction. The approach to handling adverse yaw employs fine wing adjustments rather than an aircraft's vertical tail. The technology has the potential to significantly increase total aircraft efficiency by optimizing overall aircraft configuration through the reduction in size or removal of the vertical tail as well as the reduction of structural weight.