A new vortex generator for future supersonic aircraft has been invented in Russia. The proposal aims to reduce aerodynamic drag at supersonic speeds while maintaining lift during takeoff and landing.
Engineers have proposed making the generator in the form of a flat plate installed vertically on the wing surface. The design allows the plate to automatically change position under the influence of the air flow.
The axis of rotation is located between the centers of pressure in subsonic and supersonic flight modes. This allows the device to adapt to changes in speed.
In subsonic and takeoff/landing modes, the plate deviates from the flow by an angle of 10 to 25 degrees. In this position, it forms vortices that stabilize the boundary layer and increase the lift of the wing.
The use of the proposed vortex generator will reduce aerodynamic drag, the project authors note.
When switching to supersonic mode, the center of pressure shifts, and the plate rotates along the flow. As a result, the generator practically ceases to affect aerodynamics and does not create unnecessary drag.
Andrey Kozlov, General Director of the Central Institute of Aviation Motor Engineering named after P. I. Baranov (CIAM), predicted that the first supersonic aircraft in Russia may appear no earlier than the 2040s. He also stated that Russia is three years ahead of the United States in the development of an engine for supersonic civil aviation.