編隊飛行の空気力学について

Abstract

The wings formation flight is studied by means of theoretical aerodynamics. Each wing is modeled using the horse-shoe vortex. In formation flight each wing flies in an upwash field generated by all other wings of the formation, and consequently its flight power decreases. In V formation flight the wing in a central position has a smaller local flight power reduction, while in U formation flight the local flight power reduction of each wing remains equal. In the case of a long range flight, the optimum shape is not V formation, but U formation flight. It has turned out that the value of a local flight power reduction in V formation flight is equal to that in U formation flight when the leader wing of V formation shifts to the position of a follower wing.