the technology

The FanWing experimental aircraft opens up a new area of aerodynamics   Designs to establish a means of integral lift and thrust using a horizontal-axis wing rotor are recorded back as far as the late 19th century. Some of the experiments started to take off but did not sustain flight. The FanWing new blown-wing solution offers both basic proof of concept and a steady trajectory of improved and controlled flight performance.

The idea  The aircraft has a cross-flow fan along the span of each wing. The fan pulls the air in at the front and then expels  it over the wing's trailing edge. In transferring the work of the engine to the rotor, which spans the whole wing, the FanWing accelerates a large volume of air and achieves unusually high lift-efficiency.

Proof of concept  The FanWing showed proof of concept in the form of actual flights before theoretical validation, academic research or explanation. The FanWing is an invention by trial and error and though certainly employing a methodology with good precedent in the history of innovation it is in no way within the normal paradigm of academic and conventional aircraft development. There is nevertheless a steady accumulation of tests and supporting documentation.

Wind tunnel tests  First wind-tunnel tests were conducted in 1998 by Pat Peebles at the University of Rome. Several universities have carried out work since then independently, notably two wind-tunnel projects for student dissertations requested and supervised by Professor JMR Graham at  Imperial College, London, completed in consultation with Pat Peebles and based on prototype wings provided by the FanWing Company.  Other wind-tunnel tests were also carried out independently in the Company workshop. A UK Government SMART Award and private investment in 2002 funded a series of wind-tunnel tests for theCompany providing a basis for construction of a new prototype. The Company series of test were completed at  Imperial College with Klaus Kogler assisting FanWing inventor Pat Peebles and with data consultation by Professor J M R Graham.

Efficiency  Documented efficiencies for the first prototypes were found to be in the order of 20 grams of lift per watt of input power indicating an initial lift of 1 –1 ½ tons of weight in the air with 100 hp.  These results are supported so far by test flights where the largest  prototype model flew on repeated tests with almost instant take-off and  with a 20kg take-off weight.

Ultralight Simulation Project  First manned FanWing Ultralight graphics  based on Pat Peebles' specifications  were commissioned  by FanWing in 2005 from Jon Linney, KMi, Open University UK and funded by private investment combined with a  UK Government Jumpstart Connect Award from the London Development Agency. The graphics triggered a new Imperial College Simulation project.  X-Plane software was used to establish  flight characteristics of the first manned FanWing Ultralight.. The simulation project based on Peebles' specifications and designs was completed by Oliver Ahad at Imperial College June 2006 and supervised by Professor J M R Graham with Pat Peebles as consultant. 

A UK National Award, the John Barnes Award, offered by the Association of Aerospace Universities, was presented to Oliver Ahad for his FanWing Ultralight Simulation project.  The dissertation can be requested from Imperial College. See also: Flight simulation and testing of the FanWing experimental aircraft;   Authors: O.Ahad, J.M.R. Graham;  Journal: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology ISSN: 0002-2667 Year: 2007 Volume: 79 Issue: 2

Documentation  Originals of  the Imperial College FanWing project  dissertations are kept at  the College. These and further data from the SMART project can be accessed with fomal non-disclosure agreement by direct request to the FanWing Ltd Company.

First experiments in piloted FanWing applications can now be downloaded.  FanWing Ultralight Simulation

Scaling  During the UK Government SMART-funded 2002 wind-tunnel experiments, initially small incremental increases showed a sudden 30% improvement, with raised flight speed and improved autorotation. Other experiments showed a corresponding decrease in efficiency with a separate government-funded project to produce a scaled-down micro FanWing in 2003.

Unmanned: STOL UAV.  In 2007 flight tests the STOL UAV surveillance prototype showed unusually short take-off ability, leaving the ground after a 1 m roll without payload and 3m on lower power (see video on this website and Flight Magazine online archives).  It is estimated that at maximum weight (12 kg) the small surveillance aircraft could leave the ground in three lengths. The new prototype was developed as an urban surveillance UAV.  The aircraft flies slowly and will be able to manoeuvre urban 'canyons' with take-off independent of a catapult. The efficiency of the aircraft indicates that it will have an autonomy of close to 80 minutes with a 2 kg payload under electric power.  The short-take-off capabilities make the application useful for operations originating from a  rooftop or short section of road. The aircraft will be simple to dismantle and assemble for simple transport and deployment.

This model and the newest runway independent prototype mentioned below are both registered for flight demonstration for the first time in public at the next international ParcAberporth UAV event, Wales, UK;  June 25th and 26th  2008.

Runway-Independent Aircraft  Development started in January 2005.  First positive VTOL capability based on a  new design was confirmed in November 2005 with workshop tests on an indoor tethered model.  A new patent application was deposited  April 2006 with PCT process registered March 2007. A series of linear short-take-off flights to establish basic performance parameters have been successfully completed during 2007 at varying thrust vector angles. Most recent tests December 2007 show first full circuit flights with linear tests confirming improvements in stability and hover capability. Plans now are to extend into new configurations to exploit promising results.