What Is the Function of Leading Edge Slats?
Since the Wright Brothers first took flight in December of 1903, aerospace designers and engineers have been perfecting aircraft. For instance, they have come up with a few creative ways to squeeze more lift out of the wings, although this usually depends on the airplane at hand. For instance, high-speed planes like airliners and fighter jets require more lift when they need to fly slowly as opposed to when they are landing.
One example of a modification that has been made to aircraft includes the development of slats. Slats are a form of high-lift device, similar to trailing-edge flaps. Often called leading-edge flaps, slats alter the shape of an aircraft wing to help it generate more lift at low airspeeds. Moreover, they are located on the wing’s leading edge, and they move forward to increase the camber of the wing.
Generally, aircraft use flaps to help control the amount of lift an aircraft wing can produce. Deploying flaps makes more lift; thus, a wing must be designed to fly at both high and low speeds. Considered high-lift devices, pilots deploy flaps incrementally based on the speed they want to fly. A standard flight profile includes some flaps used during takeoff, no flaps used during flight at high speeds, some flaps used during steep descents, and fully extended flaps used for landing.
If partial flaps are used for takeoff, this means that pilots can lift off the ground sooner without adding too much drag. Meanwhile, the use of fully extended flaps means that the aircraft can land at the slowest possible speed, reducing the runway it needs to stop, in addition to the wear and tear on its tires and brakes. To accommodate a wide range of aircraft, flaps are available in many shapes and sizes.
Some aircraft, such as slow moving trainers, have no flaps at all. Since the difference between their landing speed and their cruising speed is slim, there is no reason to add complexity to their design and operation. Furthermore, most light aircraft are equipped with trailing-edge flaps. As such, they come in several basic designs and make up a small portion of the inboard wing that moves downward.
As aircraft are seeing more advancements, so do their flap systems. In fact, transport aircraft often feature several sets of trailing-edge flaps, as well as leading-edge slats and slots. Essentially, slats are similar to flaps but are positioned on the front of the wing. In planes with slats, the wing’s forward edge moves forward and downward, increasing the camber of the wing significantly. For further context, the camber is the curve that the upper part of the wing forms.
Since slats are curved, they make up the leading edge of the wing during normal flight. When extended, the curve of the wing increases. It is worth noting that camber plays a vital role in how much lift is produced. That being said, the greater the camber is, the greater the difference between the pressures above and below the wing. Today, most slats are electrically-operated by a control in the cockpit, or they may be tied into the main flap controls. Other slat variations may be aerodynamically activated.
When the relative wind hits the bottom of the wing during a high angle of attack, the hinged slat moves forward and extends. Alternatively, when the angle of attack is reduced, the flattened relative wing forces the slat to retract. Typically, this configuration is known as either a Handley-Page slat or leading-edge slat.
Although getting the plane off the ground is helpful, it is critical to make the plane easy to maneuver and control during varying flight phases. To do so, aircraft must be designed with all the necessary systems, devices, units, controls, and airframe structural components, among other features. When you find yourself in need of items for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, rely on Aviation Axis.
Aviation Axis is a leading distributor of aircraft wing parts and an array of other high quality aviation products. Backed by rapid lead times and unmatched cost savings, customers can easily meet rigid time constraints and strict budget requirements. If you would like to request a quote on this item for your comparisons, fill out and submit a Request for Quote (RFQ) form with as much detail as you can, and one of our team members will reach out to you within 15 minutes to move forward with the purchasing process!
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