Patent ID: 8387923

Claim:
A method for increasing the lift of an aerodynamic surface of an aircraft or for reducing the aerodynamic drag of a ground vehicle, wherein the surface is a second surface positioned downstream of a first surface of a transversely elongated panel located upstream with respect to the direction of an air stream flowing over the first surface towards the second surface, the panel having a plurality of air intakes formed in the first surface of the panel and spaced apart from each other transversely at predetermined intervals, the air intakes having associated covers pivotally mounted to move between an open position and a closed position; the method comprising: sending a supplementary air jet on to the second surface in a direction substantially identical to the direction of the air stream, wherein at least part of the supplementary air jet is sucked in by the air stream which flows over the first surface; and moving the covers to the open position and drawing the at least part of the supplementary air jet through the plurality of air intakes formed in the first surface of the transversely elongated panel, the air intakes having capacity to capture and suck in a considerable quantity of air from the air stream flowing over the first surface.