- FanWing
FanWing or fan wing is a concept for a type of
aircraft . It is distinct from existing types of aircraft such as airplanes and helicopters in that it uses afixed wing with a forced airflow produced by cylindrical fans mounted above thewing .Its makers claim it is the first horizontal-rotored integral lift and propulsion wing in history to sustain flight. FanWing is also the name of the company created to develop the concept.
Description
Patrick Peebles developed the FanWing concept in1997 . He formed the FanWing Company and applied for patents on his idea in several countries where aircraft are manufactured. In July2005 the company advertised that the first FanWing aircraft was in development in theUnited Kingdom . They advertised that the concept has undergone wind tunnel tests and powered model flights, and that the UK government was contributing to its further development.According to the FanWing company, the concept has several differences from traditional aircraft (airplanes and helicopters), including:
*FanWing is quiet, stable inturbulence , and slow.
*It "nearly achieves" vertical takeoff and landing. (VTOL )
*FanWing cannot stall and is suited to low speed flight.
*Its already established efficiency in lift and thrust makes FanWing highly space and fuel economical.
*The FanWing is simple and requires few high-tech materials, and should therefore have low construction and maintenance costs.Fact|date=February 2007
*It has limited glide capability and needs power to remain airborne.The company gives possible applications of the aircraft concept as
air freight , short haul passenger flights, and aerial observation.Prototype
In May 2007 the developers announced that a version built for low speed STOL urban surveillance as a drone was at the prototype stage and claimed the following performance. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/05/01/213616/fanwing-uav-gets-airborne-after-ground-roll-of-only-1m.html FanWing UAV gets airborne after ground roll of only 1m] Rob Coppinger, "
Flight International " 01/05/07, Accessed August 2007.]*Airborne after a ground roll of just 1m (3ft).
*Wing-span 2.4m (7.8ft) UAV,
*Made from composite materials,
*Dry weight of 5.5kg (12.1lb),
*Maximum take-off weight 12kg,
*Payload capability 2kg,
*Powered by a 1.2kW electric motor,
*Flight speed 15.5kt (29km/h),
*Endurance, (development goal) 80min.References
* [http://www.flightinternational.com/Articles/2004/11/23/Navigation/196/190523/More-powerful+Fanwing+set+to+fly.html "Flight International Magazine" November 2004]
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70B11FF38550C718DDDAB0994DC404482 "The New York Times Magazine", 2004 Year In Ideas: The FanWing]
* [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=558610 News article "The Independent"]
* [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article133336.ece "The Independent", It looks like a lawnmower, was designed in a kitchen - but it could revolutionise aviation, 11 November 2002]External links
* [http://www.fanwing.com/ FANWING Ltd] company website
* [http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/11/20/1317237&tid=126 Slashdot: Fanwing Planes?]ee also
*
Fixed-wing aircraft
*Rotary-wing aircraft
*Ornithopter
*Gyroplane
*VTOL /STOL /VSTOL /STOVL
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