The Aerodynamic Effects of a Battle-Damaged Wing

Abstract

The aerodynamic effects of battle-damaged wings were investigated using a six-axis torque sensor in a wind tunnel at low Reynolds numbers. Two 3D printed NACA-4409 wings were used for this study. Both wings had a chord length of 8 inches, with the span of the first wing being six times the chord length and the span of the second wing being three times the chord length. The holes used for the study were 16.67 percent (1.34 inches) and 25 percent (2 inches) of the chord length, respectively. The holes were placed along both the leading and trailing edges to investigate the sensitivity of the wing’s aerodynamic performance to the chordwise location of the damage.