Andrey Bakushev, an engineer from Ulyanovsk, has developed a new variable-geometry wing system for prospective aircraft. The design is primarily aimed at multi-mode supersonic machines but can also be applied to subsonic aviation.
The main difference of the new design is that the movable part of the wing is attached not at the edge, as in the Tu-160 or F-14 Tomcat, but in the central part. This design significantly reduces bending loads, which have remained one of the main problems for variable-sweep aircraft for decades.
The design helps reduce wing mass, increase structural life, and simultaneously improve aircraft stability when changing the sweep angle.
In traditional systems, when the wing is moved into supersonic mode, the aerodynamic center shifts significantly backward, creating a pitching moment that requires complex compensation. In the new design, this effect is noticeably reduced.
The patent also describes the possibility of changing not only the sweep but also the wing's angle of incidence and dihedral. This allows the aircraft to adapt to different modes – from slow flight and landing to supersonic dash.
At low speeds, the movable part of the wing unfolds and functions as a full-fledged lifting wing with high lift. At high speeds, the consoles retract along the airflow, reducing drag. At the same time, the main load begins to be borne by the fixed part of the wing, optimized for supersonic flight.