Surfing aircraft vortices for energy. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blake, William B.; Bieniawski, Stefan R.; Flanzer, Tristan C.
• Other Names: Anderson Bradley E. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of defense modeling and simulation. Volume 12:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Aerospace -- applications in science and engineering; Military art and science -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; 355.0011305
• DOI: 10.1177/1548512913500734
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1548-5129

Abstract

Extraction of energy from the trailing wakes of aircraft is discussed. The objective is to reduce the fuel burn for trailing aircraft in a formation. Past formation flight experiments showing the feasibility of the concept are reviewed. Results from a series of C-17 mission simulations are shown that provide fuel savings estimates for various mission lengths. The effects of operational constraints such as holding times for landing and formation joining, fuel reserve requirement, and spacing between origin and destination bases are also shown.