Inflatable Slots for STOL
Short Take Off and Landing Aircraft are extremely valuable in commercial, private, government and military aviation. It is important for safety and for performance. I propose inflatable slots to increase the short take off and landing performance of aircraft. I propose a kit, which can be installed on any aircraft, which can be run thru ram air and glued to the top of the wing and rapped around the leading edge.
I propose using some of the high tech materials being used today in military and industrial venues. Additionally I believe that Winslow Life Raft Company could provide a significantly valuable inflation system, which would generally be used to rapidly deploy Navy Seal type rubber rafts. The cartridges would be singular (one unit inflates both wings) to prevent failure of one side causing immediate loss of control. These rapid inflate cartridges would be for one time use for safety incase of loss of power or in case of minimal clearances of terrain on take off or severally restricted tolerances and critical take offs with regards to density altitude. The cartridge would be inflated prior to take off roll. In the event of an emergency cartridge would be deployed to slow the aircraft down and allow for a very slow airspeed on final approach and a very small landing distance. Additionally a secondary cartridge could be deployed on touch down, which would act as an airbrake causing the aircraft to come to an almost immediate stop.
Each system would contain ten rechargeable cartridges. For standard landings if desired the system would be filled with ram air rather than a cartridge. Cartridges only used for extreme take off performance safety factors or emergency landings.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs