{"id":41775,"date":"2014-11-10T09:03:00","date_gmt":"2014-11-10T13:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-343336"},"modified":"2023-07-26T14:42:34","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T18:42:34","slug":"nasa-tests-revolutionary-shape-changing-aircraft-flap-for-the-first-time-2","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-tests-revolutionary-shape-changing-aircraft-flap-for-the-first-time-2\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Tests Revolutionary Shape Changing Aircraft Flap for the First Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>NASA\u2019s green aviation project is one step closer to developing technology that could make future airliners quieter and more fuel-efficient with the successful flight test of a wing surface that can change shape in flight.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1575\" height=\"1050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?w=1575\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg 1575w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1575px) 100vw, 1575px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>This past summer researchers replaced an airplane\u2019s conventional aluminum flaps with advanced, shape-changing assemblies that form seamless bendable and twistable surfaces. Flight testing will determine whether flexible trailing-edge wing flaps are a viable approach to improve aerodynamic efficiency and reduce noise generated during takeoffs and landings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) project is a joint effort between NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), using flaps designed and built by FlexSys, Inc., of Ann Arbor, Michigan. With AFRL funding through the Air Force\u2019s Small Business Innovative Research program, FlexSys developed a variable geometry airfoil system called FlexFoil that can be retrofitted to existing airplane wings or integrated into brand new airframes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FlexFoil\u2019s inventor, FlexSys founder and Chief Executive Officer Sridhar Kota hopes testing with the modified Gulfstream III will confirm the design\u2019s flight worthiness and open doors to future applications and commercialization. ACTE is being flown at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards in California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis flight test is one of the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project\u2019s eight large-scale integrated technology demonstrations to show design improvements in drag, weight, noise, emission and fuel reductions,\u201d said Fay Collier, ERA project manager at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the initial ACTE flight, the experimental control surfaces were locked at a specified setting. Different flap settings will be employed on subsequent flights to collect a variety of data demonstrating the capability of the flexible wings to withstand a real flight environment. The flaps have the potential to be retrofitted to existing airplane wings or integrated into new airframes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1575\" height=\"1050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?w=1575\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg 1575w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ed14-0338-081.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1575px) 100vw, 1575px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have progressed from an innovative idea and matured the concept through multiple designs and wind tunnel tests, to a final demonstration that should prove to the aerospace industry that this technology is ready to dramatically improve aircraft efficiency,\u201d said AFRL Program Manager Pete Flick, from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ACTE technology is expected to have far-reaching effects on future aviation. Advanced lightweight materials will reduce wing structural weight and give engineers the ability to aerodynamically tailor the wings to promote improved fuel economy and more efficient operations, while reducing environmental impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe first flight went as planned \u2014 we validated many key elements of the experimental trailing edges,\u201d said Thomas Rigney, ACTE Project Manager at Armstrong. \u201cWe expect this technology to make future aircraft lighter, more efficient, and quieter. It also has the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars annually in fuel costs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/go.nasa.gov\/1Ai2YV4\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>http:\/\/go.nasa.gov\/1Ai2YV4<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p>J.D. Harrington<br \/>\nHeadquarters, Washington<br \/>\n202-358-5241<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:j.d.harrington@nasa.gov\">j.d.harrington@nasa.gov<\/a><br \/>\nPeter Merlin<br \/>\nArmstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.<br \/>\n661-276-2679<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:peter.w.merlin@nasa.gov\">peter.w.merlin@nasa.gov<\/a><br \/>\nDaryl Mayer<br \/>\n88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio<br \/>\n937-522-3252<<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:88abw.pa@wpafb.af.mil\">88abw.pa@wpafb.af.mil<\/a><br \/>\nRodney Hill<br \/>\nFlexSys, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich.<br \/>\n734-645-0864<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:rhill@flxsys.com\">rhill@flxsys.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s green aviation project is one step closer to developing technology that could make future airliners quieter and more fuel-efficient with the successful flight test of a wing surface that can change shape in flight. This past summer researchers replaced an airplane\u2019s conventional aluminum flaps with advanced, shape-changing assemblies that form seamless bendable and twistable […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":49290,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"14-33","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"RELEASE","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2855,2846],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[9508],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Tests Revolutionary Shape Changing Aircraft Flap for the First Time","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-tests-revolutionary-shape-changing-aircraft-flap-for-the-first-time-2\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-tests-revolutionary-shape-changing-aircraft-flap-for-the-first-time-2\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"}],"creator":["NASA"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Science & Research","For Researchers","Armstrong Flight Research Center"],"dateCreated":"2014-11-10T13:03:00Z","datePublished":"2014-11-10T13:03:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T18:42:34Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Tests Revolutionary Shape Changing Aircraft Flap for the First Time\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-tests-revolutionary-shape-changing-aircraft-flap-for-the-first-time-2\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2014-11-10T13:03:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Science & Research,For Researchers,Armstrong Flight Research Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"featured_image":{"id":49290,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ed14-0338-080.jpg","title":"ed14-0338-080","alt":"","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/41775"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/41775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":134504,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/41775\/revisions\/134504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41775"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=41775"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=41775"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}