Patent ID: 11932388
Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  Y | IPC B

Claim 15:
16. A vertical tail plane configured for an aircraft comprising:
a vertical tail plane box including a first lateral panel with a first attachment portion and an opposite second lateral panel with a second attachment portion,
a leading edge structure including:
a plenum extending in a span direction of the vertical tail plane;
a double-walled leading edge panel at least partially surrounding the plenum, wherein the double-walled leading edge panel includes:
an inner wall element facing the plenum;
an outer wall element configured to be in contact with an ambient flow over the vertical tail plane;
a core assembly between the inner wall element and the outer wall element;
micro-pores in the outer wall element;
openings in the inner wall element, wherein air from the ambient flow flows through the micro-pores, the core assembly, the openings and into the plenum;
a first side portion of the double-walled leading edge panel extends from a leading edge point to a first attachment end, wherein the first attachment end includes the inner wall element and the outer wall element; and
a second side portion of the double-walled leading edge panel is opposite the first side portion, and extends from the leading edge point to a second attachment end, wherein the second attachment end includes the inner wall element and the outer wall element, and at the first attachment end and/or at the second attachment end the outer wall element attaches to the inner wall element by both bonding and fasteners; and

a back wall forming a back of the plenum and spanning between the first side portion and the second side portion, wherein the fasteners attach the back wall to at least one of the first attachment and the second attachment;

wherein the first attachment end is attached to the first attachment portion, and the second attachment end is attached to the second attachment portion, and
wherein the first side portion of the leading edge panel forms a continuous flow surface with the first lateral panel of the vertical tail plane box, and the second side portion of the leading edge panel forms a continuous flow surface with the second lateral panel of the vertical tail plane box.