Patent ID: 8186630

Claim:
A leading edge structure for an aerofoil, said leading edge structure comprising: a fixed leading edge structure for attachment to a wing box, said fixed leading edge structure having upper and lower aerofoil surfaces; a droop leading edge structure comprising a trailing edge, said droop leading edge structure attached to said fixed leading edge structure by first and second hinge arms, each of said hinge arms being pivotably engaged with said fixed leading edge structure and said droop leading edge structure, said hinge arms configured to define the movement of said droop leading edge structure relative to said fixed leading edge structure; an actuator configured to act on said droop leading edge structure so as to move said droop leading edge structure between a deployed position and a stowed position relative to said fixed leading edge structure, wherein the droop leading edge structure in the stowed position provides the leading edge surface for the aerofoil, and said first and second hinge arms are configured to hold said trailing edge of said droop leading edge structure in contact with said upper aerofoil surface of said fixed leading edge structure in both said deployed and stowed positions and to move said trailing edge apart from said upper aerofoil during movement of said droop leading edge structure between said deployed and stowed positions.