NASA has completed successful ground tests of a novel aeronautical technology capable of noticeably boosting aircraft fuel economy. The test demonstrated that during a high-speed runway roll, an F-15B jet equipped with a scaled model of the new wing achieved a speed of around 231 km/h.
The primary goal of the trials, according to the idea’s creators, is to verify a technology known as “Control of Adverse Trim and Natural Laminar Flow” (CATNLF). The essence of this innovation is altering the wing surface design, enabling an increase in laminar, meaning smooth and layered, airflow in the boundary layer. This lessens drag—aerodynamic resistance—and consequently reduces fuel consumption.
For the testing, a scaled wing model, approximately 90 centimeters high and resembling a vertical stabilizer, was attached to the F-15 fuselage. The trial roll occurred on January 12th at Edwards Air Force Base in California, and previously, from 2014 to 2017, computer modeling calculated that applying CATNLF technology to a Boeing 777-type aircraft would yield fuel savings of up to 10%. This could lower company expenses by millions of dollars annually.
The invention’s authors point out that even minor efficiency improvements can result in substantial reductions in consumption and emissions. The NASA team is now preparing for the flight testing stage.
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