Airplane flaps

Claim 1

An aircraft flap and linkage system for an aircraft having a swept tapered wing wherein the aircraft is of a STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) type, said system comprising: a spoiler, forward flap and aft flap positioned along the rearward edge of said wing and adapted to form a part thereof in the aircraft cruising mode, means pivoting said spoiler downwardly, means moving both said flaps rearwardly in spaced relationship to said rearward edge of said wing for the aircraft takeoff mode, and means moving said aft flap rearwardly and downwardly in spaced relationship to said forward flap for the aircraft landing mode, both said moving means comprising a linkage system extending along selected fairing stations along said wing and protruding into the airstream below the wing during said aircraft cruising mode, and a pivotal linkage connection to said wing at each station oriented in such manner that said forward flap pivots with an approximate conic motion, said conic motion being greater nearer the fuselage of the aircraft and lesser nearer the wing tip, one of said pivotal linkage connections having a pivot axis normal to the airstream and other of said pivotal linkage connections at other of said stations having pivot axes that are angularly oriented relative thereto, wherein said linkages pivot and move in the direction of the airstream to permit housing within streamlined fairings below said wing.