Aerodynamic Characteristics of a 4-foot-diameter Ducted Fan Mounted on the Tip of a Semispan Wing

Power, free-stream velocity, and duct angle of attack were varied at several wing angles of attack to define the aerodynamic characteristics of the ducted fan, wing, and of the ducted fan wing together. At large duct angles of attack, the inside of the upstream duct lip stalled causing a rapid change in the duct pitching moments and an accompanying increase in the power required. At low horizontal velocities, this lip stall would probably limit the rate of descent of a vehicle with a wing-tip-mounted ducted fan. During low-speed, level, unaccelerated flight (30 to 80 knots) it appeared that a vehicle, with a configuration similar to that examined, would require less power if it were supported by a wing and ducted fans than if it were supported only by ducted fans. (Author).