Vortex lift in highly swept conventional wings.

[ThePolishAviator]

Hello,

there is a lot of discussion regarding the inherent aerodynamic advantage of delta wing which is vortex lift, yet I have never encountered a discussion about vortex lift in more conventional wings that simply are highly swept (eg. English Electric Lightning). If the leading edges are very similar and the vortex does not travel very far inboard of the wing then in theory both highly swept deltas and conventional wings should enjoy the advantages of vortex lift.

Am I missing something here or is this indeed the case?

 

[FlyGuy369]

Hello,

there is a lot of discussion regarding the inherent aerodynamic advantage of delta wing which is vortex lift, yet I have never encountered a discussion about vortex lift in more conventional wings that simply are highly swept (eg. English Electric Lightning). If the leading edges are very similar and the vortex does not travel very far inboard of the wing then in theory both highly swept deltas and conventional wings should enjoy the advantages of vortex lift.

Am I missing something here or is this indeed the case?

Hey!

I think the easiest put answer here is that aircraft that use high swept wings (including lifting bodies) all benefit from vortex lift. A good example to add is it is often seen implemented in other ways, like an F/A-18's LERX. You may be valid in your assumption, provided that the chord notch inboard doesn't negate the effect.

 

[riggerrob]

Withold Kasper bragged about vortex lift on his gently swept BKB sailplane. He claimed very low rates of descent at steep angles of attack.
There is video on www.youtube.com of an ultralight Kasper Wing demonstrating the phenomenon.

 

[Nicknick]

Does the Kasper Wing have a special profile to achieve vortex lift generation?

I would be a great help for Canard designs if the main wing would become stall proof by Vortex lift generation.

Edit:
I found a very intresting paper about the BKB sailplane:

A new tailless sailplane

unfortunately, there are no wing vortexes mentioned.

 

[RocketJavelin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1815526669689803046

View: https://x.com/aeropaleo/status/1815526669689803046?s=46

 

[riggerrob]

Does the Kasper Wing have a special profile to achieve vortex lift generation?

I would be a great help for Canard designs if the main wing would become stall proof by Vortex lift generation.

Edit:
I found a very intresting paper about the BKB sailplane:

A new tailless sailplane

unfortunately, there are no wing vortexes mentioned.

Witold Kasper also experimented with additional flaps on the top skin to encourage vortex separation. One spanwise flap was hinged at the leading edge to encourage formation of a lateral vortex immediately behind the leading edge.
The second spanwise flap was hinged about 75 percent MAC similar to where you would expect to find an aileron hinge or flap hinge, but the key difference was that Kasper's second flap hinged upwards to encourage a vortex above the trailing edge.

 

[Nicknick]

Witold Kasper also experimented with additional flaps on the top skin to encourage vortex separation. One spanwise flap was hinged at the leading edge to encourage formation of a lateral vortex immediately behind the leading edge.
The second spanwise flap was hinged about 75 percent MAC similar to where you would expect to find an aileron hinge or flap hinge, but the key difference was that Kasper's second flap hinged upwards to encourage a vortex above the trailing edge.

You mean, like this?

 

[red admiral]

You mean, like this?

The rearwards flap hinges backwards with another vortex behind it but otherwise yes.

I'm unclear how this arrangement was meant to increase lift rather than act as a giant spoiler and reduce lift.