The Ml-L lifting body concept employs a high volumetric efficiency fore body and an inflatable afterbody that is deployed to provide lift-to-drag ratios sufficient for horizontal landings. The purpose of the investigation described here was to determine the low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a large-scale model with an inflatable afterbody. In addition, a model with a rigid afterbody was tested as a datum for aeroelastic characteristics.nDeployment of the inflatable afterbody increased the maximum lift-to-drag ratio (L/D) from less than 1 to slightly more than 2. This value was about 15 to 20 percent less than that for the model with the rigid afterbody. Because a maximum L/D of about 2-1/2 is the minimum value required to accomplish a horizontal landing, this 20-percent reduction appeared to be the most significant effect of flexibility.nStudies indicated that deployment of the inflatable afterbody is mechanically feasible.
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