Radical Concept

[Katahu]

The Fan Wing

http://fanwing.com/

I also found an addon that is similar for X-Plane, but unfortunately X-Plane doesn't appear to have a clear understanding of this concept. You can get it here:

http://www.x-plane.org/registry/107_Cus ... igns.shtml

It's a pretty interesting concept. However, I can imagine how ugly the planes will look.

[Hagar]

Well, the model flies but it's too complicated for my liking. Too many moving parts for a start. Difficult to maintain & have they considered what happens if the engine conks out?

[beaky]

This is one of those really good ideas that's not really such a good idea. Supposedly it will glide respectably if the engine quits, but I see maintenance issues. To distribute the torque evenly along that span, etc...I dunno. It's not the mos efficient use of a powerplant; that's obvious.
It probably is too complicated; I agree with Doug.
Call me old-fashioned, but I like to have the wings reserved for lift, and the thrust produced elsewhere.
I know helicopters are wildly successful despite not obeying that rule, but they're only a little more complicated than this thing and their amazing utility outweighs the high cost and risk.
 
The other thing is that unlike with a prop, I don't think this arrangement would be favorable in the event of a bird strike...
Hell, the buildup of bug carcasses alone would probably be a problem. Have you ever seen a leading edge of a wing so embedded with insect blood that it won't come out no matter how much you scrub? I have...and I tried, believe me.

[SilverFox441]

I'm actually surprised that they haven't gone to a variable geometry fan... they seem to have missed that step in increasing efficiency.

VG blades were used on paddle boats toward the end and greatly increased thrust. VG would also allow for closing the fan completely at higher speeds and using the Magnus Rotor effect for lift, while transfering engine power to more conventional arrangements (prop).

It would also solve their glide concerns...with the fan closed in Magnus mode the wing is nothing more than a conventional wing with a very high camber.

Maybe later in development?

[TacitBlue]

This is a cool idea. In fact I've actually thought about the concept, and I'm glad someone is researching it (because I probably never would). However, I don't see it ever being used for anything practical simply because it's just so different.