Events Calendar

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Seminar Series

Speaker: Al Bowers, Senior Aerodynamicist, NASA Dryden

Talk Title: Spanload Implications for the Flight of Birds: On the Minimum Induced Drag of Wings

Series: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Seminar Series

Abstract: Birds do not require the use of vertical tails. They do not appear to have any mechanism by which to control yaw. The solution requires aerodynamic efficiency, minimum structural weight, and for coordination of roll and yaw. Until now the solution has eluded researchers, and remained unknown. The solution has far reaching effects on the design of aircraft and promises efficiency improvement. This solution requires discarding the elliptical spanload. The new solution uses a three-dimensional downwash and is manipulated by birds to control roll and yaw with superior aerodynamic performance and minimum structure.

Biography: Al Bowers is the Chief Scientist at the NASA Neil A Armstrong Flight Research Center located at Edwards Air Force Base. Al spent 20 years as a research aerodynamicist and as chief engineer of many aircraft projects including the NASA F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle, the NASA SR-71s, and the NASA Kelly Eclipse Aerotow F-106 project. Al was an aerodynamicist on the F-8 Oblique Wing, the X-30 National Aerospace Plane, and the X-29 Forward Swept Wing. Al has also served at NASA Armstrong as the Chief of Aerodynamics, the Deputy Director of Research, the Special Assistant to the Associate Director of Aeronautics in Washington DC, the Director of Aeronautics Projects, and now as the Chief Scientist. He has been awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal. Al has spent 20 years working on the problem of flying wings, and how birds are able to fly without vertical tails.

Host: Prof. Geoffrey Spedding

Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Valerie Childress