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Originally Posted by akahenaton
Are there any systems for Aerodynamic Lubrication?
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I’m uncertain what akahenaton means by “aerodynamic lubrication”, but can guess at a couple of possibilities
- Lubricating fluid. The famous SR-71 used the fuel contained in its single-walled wings to redistribute heat from its hot leading edges to its cooler flat sections, allowing it to radiate frictional heat without melting its titanium leading edges. Due to this construction, the aircraft leaked fuel prior to flight, leading to one “cult myth” that this leakage was designed to persist during flight to produce evaporative cooling, another that it wetted the aircraft’s surfaces to make them “slicker”. Neither claim is true.
- Active aerodynamics. Several experimental aircraft have incorporated computer-controlled systems such as small movable panels and, pressure sensors, and air jets, to create a airfoil or other airframe component with less drag than its static shape would produce. It’s a promising technology, somewhat analogous to using mechanical vibration to reduce mechanical drag between surfaces.
Given that unmanned
X-43 has reached nearly mach 10 in level flight, MACH 20!!! may not be as incredible a thought as it might seem at first glance.
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