Sticky Question?
Sticky Question?
Some years ago I read an article about a thin perforated film (possibly made by 3M?) that could be applied to aircraft surfaces to reduce drag. At the time (hopefully not the 1st April!), I believe it was being tested by at least one UK Airline. Does anyone please remember what became of this product? Was it a success, and is it still used?
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Worldwide
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3M did have a product that as far as I recall was based upon shark scales but made a plastic film.
The idea was that the boundary layer would remain attached as a thin turbulent layer being reenergized by the coating, as the coating was like have very small vortex generators all over the aircraft.
Don’t know what came of it, I thought it was being trailed in Europe, it may be 15-20 years ago now.
The product from memory was a by product of the Americas cup boat race as the coating was designed originally to be attached to the hull of the racing yachts.
Z
The idea was that the boundary layer would remain attached as a thin turbulent layer being reenergized by the coating, as the coating was like have very small vortex generators all over the aircraft.
Don’t know what came of it, I thought it was being trailed in Europe, it may be 15-20 years ago now.
The product from memory was a by product of the Americas cup boat race as the coating was designed originally to be attached to the hull of the racing yachts.
Z
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Austin, TX, USA
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Just a bit of trivia, "riblets" are ridges that run prependicular to streamlines, "rivulets" run parallel to streamlines.
The height of the ridges is on a microscopic scale (think sharkskin) and the main parameters that can be varied are the height of the peaks and the spacing between peaks.
The height of the ridges is on a microscopic scale (think sharkskin) and the main parameters that can be varied are the height of the peaks and the spacing between peaks.
