Education 2008-2009 Semester 1

single component animation

My interest is the evolution of fighter aircraft form that was caused by the invention of newer engine, radar technology and new research in aerodynamic. These inventions alter the aircraft shape to what we know today.

The aircraft shape shows the evolution of fighter aircraft through time

Developed early in World War I, Fighter aircraft are specifically designed for air to air combat, shot down enemy bombers, and conducted various tactical missions. At the time, Most Fighter aircraft were propeller, biplane with wooden frames and cloth skins. The double wing design was appropriate for that time because it gives an accurate lateral control for low speed maneuverability. As technology progressed, the invention of more powerful engine required a more rigid aircraft structure. World War II saw the development of all-metal monoplanes with monocoque body that exceeded speeds of 725 km/h, compared to early WW1 fighter with maximum speed of 113 km/h. one of the significant research in aerodynamics was laminar flow that help the improvement in wing design that was applied in P51 Mustang. Dive breaks also introduced to help slow the aircraft and increase maneuverability.

Biplane aircraft with wooden structure and cloth skin

In 1950s Innovations such as swept wings, delta wing, variable-geometry wings, area ruled  fuselages and the invention of turbojets were introduced, providing greatly increased speed and efficiency at transonic speeds. The research continued, dihedral and anhedral was applied to wing to increase roll stability to fighter aircraft. But not all fighter needs it, since stability brings the aircraft vulnerable to missiles and tracking. F117 aerodynamic is one of the examples of relaxed stability. The thin wing and angled surface help to achieve this and deflect enemy radar. Nowadays the advance research in aerodynamics and imaging technology brings the F22 into a stealth, extreme aerodynamics and efficient super cruise fighter aircraft.

Wing Pod to reduce drag on airplane is now standard in all aircraft.

The swept wing experiment is brought to extreme in X-29

 The example from aviation world, shows how invention and innovation of technology interlink with each other, it also shows how a progress demand more complexity and sophistication, not merely in a form wise but also function wise. In architecture this can be an example of how new technology brings new society and it demand new innovation that can adapt to its present condition in order to survive.

F22 Raptor surface is generating an extreme Aerodynamic and made of radar absorbing material

The Basic changes in wing during flight cycle are swept wing degrees, flaps and air-brake. The changes in wings element is directly connected to flight behavior,  explain in the diagram below, 

The relation between wings element, behavior and speed of the aircraft