US 12,391,368 B2
Drag modification systems for aircraft and related methods
Steve G. Mackin, Bellevue, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on May 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/741,317.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/187,182, filed on May 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0363370 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 21/02 (2006.01); B64C 21/06 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 21/025 (2013.01) [B64C 21/06 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system to modify drag on an aircraft, the system comprising:
a boundary layer intake plenum mounted to an exterior surface of a fuselage of the aircraft;
an eductor defining:
a primary inlet to receive a primary fluid pressurized air from a cabin of the aircraft;
a secondary inlet in fluid communication with the intake plenum configured to receive a secondary fluid entrained from the intake plenum and generate a suction at the secondary inlet to ingest boundary layer air and modify a boundary layer of the aircraft by reducing the boundary layer such that the portion of the boundary layer ingested does not build up or locally spill into the wake of the aircraft to reduce drag during flight, the pressurized air from the cabin of the aircraft to provide the eductor a propulsive force; and
an outlet to exhaust a mixed flow including the primary fluid and the secondary fluid.