Reduced Drag Aircrafts : crane program
[ad_1]
Introduction
The Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program is an initiative being undertaken by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to eliminate the need for traditional moving flight controls on the exterior of the wings and tail. The program aims to improve aircraft performance by using Active Flow Control (AFC) technology to create virtual control surfaces out of compressed air. DARPA has awarded Aurora Flight Sciences a Phase 2 contract to work on the CRANE program. The aim is that by Phase 3, which is hoped to complete by 2025, the aircraft will be completed and ready for in-flight testing. The accomplishment of this project has the potential to change the way aircrafts are designed and constructed in the future.
What is the CRANE program?
The DARPA’s CRANE program stands for Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors. The program is aimed at eliminating the need for traditional moving flight controls on the exterior of an aircraft’s wings and tail. The program has been designed to help reduce the weight and mechanical complexity of traditional control surfaces, improve aircraft overall performance, and allow for higher angles of attack.
What is the AFC technology?
The CRANE program will use Active Flow Control (AFC) technology to fly the aircraft. AFC technology includes a series of nozzle arrays that are placed along the wings and connected to a pressurized air system. The nozzle arrays have the ability to blow controlled bursts of air to directly modify the air pressure and flow around the aircraft, which effectively create virtual control surfaces out of compressed air.
How will the AFC test plane be constructed?
Aurora Flight Sciences, which has been awarded the phase 2 contract for the CRANE program, is currently in the process of constructing a full-scale unmanned AFC test plane. The plane has a 30-foot wingspan and the capability to fly at speeds up to Mach 0.7.
What are the benefits of the CRANE program?
The CRANE program has the potential to change the way aircrafts are constructed in the future. Traditional moving flight control technology is an essential aspect of aircraft design that has remained relatively unchanged over the years. The CRANE program will help reduce the weight and mechanical complexity of traditional control surfaces, improve aircraft overall performance, allow for higher angles of attack, and create virtual control surfaces out of compressed air.
How will the CRANE program impact the aviation industry?
The development of the CRANE program has the potential to change the way aircrafts are designed and constructed in the future. If the program is successful, we can expect to see new and innovative designs for aircraft that are more advanced, efficient, and cost-effective. This, in turn, will have a significant impact on the aviation industry as a whole.
Conclusion
The CRANE program, initiated by DARPA, seeks to revolutionize the way aircrafts are designed and built. The program aims to eliminate traditional moving flight control surfaces on aircrafts, reduce weight and mechanical complexity, improve overall performance, and enable higher angles of attack. The use of Active Flow Control (AFC) technology will create virtual control surfaces out of compressed air, which is a breakthrough in aircraft design. If successful, the CRANE program will have a significant impact on the aviation industry, and we can expect new and innovative aircraft designs in the future.
FAQs:
Q. What does the CRANE program aim to achieve?
The CRANE program aims to eliminate the need for traditional moving flight control surfaces on aircrafts, reduce weight and mechanical complexity, improve aircraft overall performance, and enable higher angles of attack.
Q. What technology is being used in the CRANE program?
The CRANE program is using Active Flow Control (AFC) technology, which creates virtual control surfaces out of compressed air.
Q. What are the benefits of the CRANE program?
The benefits of the CRANE program include reduced weight and mechanical complexity of traditional control surfaces, improved aircraft overall performance, and higher angles of attack.
Q. What is Aurora Flight Sciences’ role in the CRANE program?
Aurora Flight Sciences has been awarded the phase 2 contract for the CRANE program and is currently in the process of constructing a full-scale unmanned AFC test plane.
Q. How will the CRANE program impact the aviation industry?
The CRANE program has the potential to change the way aircrafts are designed and constructed in the future, leading to new and innovative aircraft designs that are more efficient and cost-effective.
[ad_2]
