Patent ID: 7048235

Claim:
A swept slotted three-dimensional airfoil having a span and a predetermined three-dimensional shape tailored to improve transonic performance over an un-slotted airfoil, the airfoil comprising: at least one leading airfoil element having an upper surface and a lower surface; at least one trailing airfoil element defining a full-span transonic cruise slot with the leading airfoil element, the trailing airfoil element having an upper surface and a lower surface, the slot being positioned spanwise along the span at a position where the airfoil experiences Mach critical flow and having a predetermined three-dimensional shape to allow a portion of the air flowing along the lower surface of the leading airfoil element to diverge to flow over the upper surface of the trailing airfoil element and, thereby, to provide the performance improvement, wherein the slot location substantially coincides with a shock location.