Humpack whale flippers advance aerodynamics

[Cyclic Hotline]

I listened to a very interesting interview yesterday about developments in the design and effect of "bumpy" leading edges versus smooth leading edges. This work was inspired by research into the humpback whale flippers!

Potentially interesting development for the future?

Innovations site (http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/process_engineering/report-29118.html)

[Lu Zuckerman]

To: Cyclic Hotline

There is an outfit based at Paine Field in Everett, Washington that does the same thing using tiny vortex generators. They have developed STCs for quite a few light and mediun civil aircraft increasing lift and decreasing drag. Perhaps the tubercles generate tiny vortices increasing the lift on the wales flippers.


Ain't nature grand?

:E :E

[Milt]

Hydrodynamics and Fish

Much research has been done into the reason/s that some fish have extraordinary low form drag thus reducing their energy for swimming and permitting higher speeds.

Some results of the research have been applied to submarine design.

[IBTheseus]

Is this something to do why the B738 has a series of vortex generators under the leading edge?

[Miserlou]

I suppose the Beluga would be the logical test aircraft.