Anyone know how the Has anyone seen the Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-X is coming along? Looked like a very interesting project.

On Mon, 11 Dec 2017 08:22:04 -0800, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:

> Anyone know how the Has anyone seen the Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-X is
> coming along? Looked like a very interesting project.

I just spotted this note about the X-56A:

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/
highly_flexible_wings_tested.html

- please note that this rather long URL may be folded when you get it.

It turns out that NASA is working on using a similar layout for
airliners, etc., but would appear to be a bit behind the AK-X project.
I'm guessing this to be the case because the X-56A looks to be similar in
size to the 1/4 scale AK-X prototype. A big difference seems to be that
NASA are working on using active flutter suppression to manage light,
flexible wings while the AK-X is reliant on using torsionally stiff
surfaces.

There's more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_X-56


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie
| dot org

I believe the foot launchable hang glider, the Swift (Swept Wing Inboard Flaps for Trim) uses wing flaps ahead of the CG. I believe nose pitches up when they are used. Now made by Aerianne in Belgium. It is a gorgeous aircraft and gorgeously thought through and developed.