Microvanes for aircraft aft body drag reduction

摘要

The invention relates a method and apparatus for reducing the drag on aircraft, particularly aircraft with an upswept afterbody (106). The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of drag reducing elements on the fuselage (102) of the aircraft, wherein the drag reducing elements (108) are positioned on the fuselage from a position at the breakline of the fuselage (102) and extending toward the tail of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments, each of the plurality of drag reducing elements (108) is positioned such that a first end of the drag reducing element is at an angle of between approximately 15 and 35° nose up relative to the flow of air about the fuselage (102) at the location where the drag reducing element (108) is positioned.