Flap controls for surface skimmer - positions flaps interlocked with wing flaps to control transit phase to air cushion hovering

摘要

The surface skimmer has a single impeller (3) as a ducted propeller to generate the forward thrust and to skim the craft on the air cushion forced under the profiled wings (6). In the landing and take-off stage the air cushion is enhanced by deflecting some or all of the thrust through special flaps (13) in the wing. The ducted thrust is directed onto interlocked flaps (14) which provide a louvred assembly in a curve. When these flaps are closed they form a curved duct leading to the wing flaps (13) whose opening action is interlocked with the closing action of the louvres. A smooth transition from skimming to hover flight is thus achieved.