Bell Aerospace Cold Thrust Augmentation (CTA) V/STOL proposal

[Triton]

Artist's impression of Bell Aerospace Cold Thrust Augmentation (CTA) V/STOL proposal.

Bell Aerospace V/STOL proposal uses the most interesting wing technology. Called "cold thrust augmentation" (CTA) minimum drag and maximum lift are produced by ducting air downward through slots in the wing. About 50 percent of engine air is bypassed through wing nozzles located in spanwise slots in the wings. The wings look like an accordion at low speed but flatten out during cruise.

Source: "Medium-Range STOLs Get Set" Popular Science December 1973

 

[elmayerle]

Given past experience with eejector systems sclaing from lab to full-xcale, I'd wager this one wouldn't have worked any better than the XV-4A (which had to get the ejector system replaced by a battery of lift jets) and the XFV-12A.

 

[Avimimus]

I wouldn't be surprised if it worked better. There is still quite a bit of room between "working better than the XVF-12" and "working" after all.

 

[AeroFranz]

of all VTOL abominations, ejectors rank VERY high. the XFV-12 installation was particularly bad because to minimize losses, you need long rectangular "trenches", which neither the foreplane nor the main wing could afford. So yeah, this might actually work *marginally* better (heavy emphasis on marginally!) ;D

 

[LowObservable]

"Experience is the ability to recognize the same dumb**** mistake the second time you make it."

Or the third, if you count the E-7.

 

[Stargazer]

More about the CTA technology:

 

[Stargazer]

More:

 

[Stargazer]

And: