Evaluation Of Cloud Detection Instruments And Performance Of Laminar Flow Leading Edge Test Articles During Nasa Leading Edge Flight Test Program

Summary evaluations of the performance of laminar-flow control (LFC) leading edge test articles on a NASA JetStar aircraft are presented. Statistics, presented for the test articles' performance in haze and cloud situations, as well as in clear air, show a significant effect of cloud particle concentrations on the extent of laminar flow. The cloud particle environment was monitored by two instruments, a cloud particle spectrometer (Knollenberg probe) and a charging patch. Both instruments are evaluated as diagnostic aids for avoiding laminar-flow detrimental particle concentrations in future LFC aircraft operations. The data base covers 19 flights in the simulated airline service phase of the NASA Leading-Edge Flight-Test (LEFT) Program. Davis, Richard E. and Maddalon, Dal V. and Wagner, Richard D. and Fisher, David F. and Young, Ronald Ames Research Center; Armstrong Flight Research Center; Langley Research Center...