Peripheral Jet Air Cushion Landing System Spanloader Aircraft. Volume II

摘要

Inherent in the design optimization of wing span-distributed load (spanloader) aircraft is the lack of ground operational down bending laod reaction capability of the wing structure. It is necessary to provide a means to react these down bending loads if the wing structural weight is minimized. Recent studies have provided wide tread landing gears as a means to react these down bending loads, limiting the operational capability of the aircraft where the tread width exceeds most existing airport taxiway or runway widths. This study examines the feasibility of replacing the wide tread gear with a peripheral jet air cushion landing system (PJ-ACLS) in combination with a minimum tread (75 feet) width gear. The PJ-ACLS is located adjacent to the wing tip and is used primarily as wing down bending load reaction device. The minimum tread width gear is retained to simplify takeoff and landing procedures and to reduce the magnitude of the lift required from the PJ-ACLS. (Author)