Jet wing with multiple thrust augmentors

Claim 1

In an aircraft sustension system in which bypass air from a turbofan type of engine serves as a source of compressed air, a wing of airfoil cross section and having a hollow nose section and a plurality of hollow spar members spaced from the nose section and from each other in a chordwise direction, the number of spars being of the order of four or more, the space between the nose section and the first spar and between respective pairs of the spars constituting spanwise extending transverse flow ducts through the wing having respective inlets in the suction surface and respective outlets in the pressure surface of the wing, the suction surface of the wing including a plurality of spanwise extending flaps each pivotally supported at its trailing edge by a respective spar member and normally overlying and closing the inlet of a respective one of said flow ducts, the pressure surface of the wing including a pluraliTy of spanwise extending flaps one hinged to the hollow nose section and the remaining flaps being pivotally supported by a respective spar member, all of said last-named flaps but one lying in the pressure surface of the wing respectively overlying and normally closing the outlet of a respective transverse flow duct, the last chordwise positioned flap on the pressure surface being a trailing edge flap, an operative flow connection between said compressed air source and the hollow nose section and hollow spars, a multiplicity of injection nozzles positioned in each of said transverse ducts and operatively connected to the hollow nose section or a respective hollow spar, said injection nozzles adapted to inject a multiplicity of high velocity jets of air into each transverse wing duct when the inlets and outlets thereto are opened by elevation of the suction surface flaps and depression of the pressure surface flaps, the high velocity jets inducing a flow of ambient air from over the suction surface of the wing into the respective ducts to mix therewith and the augmented mass flow being discharged downward between pairs of flaps on the pressure surface of the wing acting as diffusers to reduce the static pressure above the wing and increase the static pressure below the wing and thereby creating a lift reaction substantially independent of wing angle of attack, the flaps on said suction surface being independently angularly adjustable relative to each other so as to conform to the pattern of the inflow streamlines in the respective flight conditions, said wing being provided with chordwise extending end plates projecting above and below the suction and pressure surfaces of the wing respectively, a chordwise extending guide surface normally in contact with and overlying the top of each end plate and means to extend and retract each of said guide plates relative to its associated end plate, each said guide plate when elevated above the associated wing end plate serving to guide inflowing ambient air moving toward the suction surface of the wing from over the end plate when the aircraft is in the vertical takeoff flight condition.