Patent ID: 6340134
Filing Date: 2002-01-22
Classification: B64C,Y02T

Abstract:
An aircraft comprising: a body; a supplementary wing comprising two wing, sections extending outwardly on either side of the body, to provide lift for the body; and a wing support structure for the supplementary wing extending between the body and the supplementary wing, wherein the supplementary wing is configured to reduce induced drag and the supplementary wing by itself has insufficient strength to support the aircraft, wherein the wing support structure comprises a main wing and provides additional strength to withstand loads applied to the supplementary wing by lift forces at least, wherein the main wing extends outwardly from the body spaced from the supplementary wing and the wing support structure includes at least two connections between the main wing and the supplementary wing transferring loads between the supplementary wing and the main wing, wherein the main wing has a low aspect ratio and the supplementary wing has a high aspect ratio, and wherein the main and supplementary wings are configurable to provide the supplementary wing with a higher lift coefficient than the main wing, thereby to provide an overall drag reduction.