Vertical Take-Off & Landing Aircraft, VTOL Ground Effects
SAE-PP-00241
02/03/2021
- Content
- The ground-effect problems of loss of thrust and fountain-effect instabilities are quantified. Experiments to control and augment ground-effect lift and stability are presented, including jet momentum-reflection and fountain re-direction using various types of internal and external underbody ventral strakes. By strategically designing the VTOL ventral surface, reflection of the impinging fountain momentum is possible, so that instead of losing 10% thrust while in ground-effect, remarkably, thrust is augmented 10% or more, to a considerable height above the ground, in addition to stabilizing random pitch and roll moments caused by fountain instability.
- Citation
- Anthony, L., and Jackson, A., "Vertical Take-Off & Landing Aircraft, VTOL Ground Effects," SAE MobilityRxiv™ Preprint, submitted February 3, 2021, https://doi.org/10.47953/SAE-PP-00241.