Aircraft Wings Changing Shape on Landing

Most aviation accidents happen near the airports and of those most happen on or very near the runway. This is because of the speeds involved, the congestion and design of the aircraft. But what if we could design wings which changed shape on landing like a bird? Is it possible or will we have the capability to do this in the future?

Yes, It is possible with a morphing wing and in the future Carbon Nanotubes will allow for this. Like a bird scooping up the aircushion as it touches down. Others have considered aircraft, which turn propeller blades into rotor blades and thus land speeds closer to zero than that of the normal aircraft of 90 to 140 Kts. Believe it or not Boeing has made some leaps in anti-gravity as well.

Some Sci Fi authors have considered creating giant bowls which would expand under the aircraft when landing and could be used to do this for a perfect landing every time into an air cushion. Some think tankers in the aviation sector have many ideas on this including vortex waves and disruption of gravity waves and manipulations for tractor beams. It should all be possible soon. How soon is soon? Well, some say 20-30 years, which is very soon in terms of the overall human endeavor.

Many believe this will reduce accidents, as take off speeds of over 120 kts can be dangerous if something goes wrong. A pilot can really slow an aircraft down on a run way by holding the stick back to use the wing or airfoil as a speed brake. If a wing could totally change shape you could make it a cup shape leading edge would invert and that would really slow you down fast. Additionally if a wing could be dumped or dipped down and the elevator up, that too would slow down the aircraft. You will see all this with the new materials coming forward. If you have such abstract ideas on the future designs of aircraft you are not alone. Think on this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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