DynASTOL - Dynamic Lift Assisted Short Takeoff and Landing

This technology project aims to advance the art of aviation in reducing - by almost an order of magnitude - landing and takeoff distance for diverse aircraft. AEREON will exploit the "dynamic lift" phenomenon, emulating the technology/technique of birds. Such technology accomplishment will respond to the Phase I SBIR Topic "To Enhance the Navy's Warfighting Capabilities" (enabling very short-field and small-deck operations) by demonstration through small model testing and documentation. AEREON's 6 month experimental Project consists of low cost, short-duration, catapaulted flights and landings (exploiting dynamic lift)in a very short distance. The UNPOWERED model will be a scaled-down version of AEREON's deltoid "Wide Aperture Surveillance Platform" UAV (WASP UAV)configuration. Test results will benefit from using that shape. The 12 month Option will enhance test aircraft capability, extending to POWERED flight Dynamic Lift Assisted Takeoff and Landing ("DynASTOL"), scaled to a short field or littoral combat ship (LCS)deck-size area, in calm conditions. The combined Phase II with Option will mature the enabling technologies and perform flight demonstrations to prove feasibility of DynASTOL. That will move dynamic lift from an immature 'analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of-concept' [TRL 3] toward the 'mature system/subsystem model and prototype demonstration in a relevant environment' [TRL 6]. Rapid transition of the technology to other UAV, developmental and even operational aircraft will have been enabled by TTO.