F-14 Tomcat:
History
Specifications
Bureau Numbers
Walk-Around
Squadrons
Photos
Books
Memorabilia
Other Topics:
Grumman A/C
EXTRA 400
A/C Photos
Links
Guestbook
Credits
The Author
|
Wing Glove Sealing Plates
Since the F-14 is a variable sweep wing aircraft, the section where the wing is swept into
the fuselage is an aerodynamically critical area. To improve the aerodynamic characteristics of
this structural detail, wing glove sealing plates have been developed for both wings. These
sealing plates help smooth the airflow and reduce the drag. In addition, two "bags" are placed below the wings where the wings sweep over the fuselage thereby filling the gap between wing/fuselage and sealing plate/fuselage respectively.
The very earliest F-14s had a rectangle wing glove sealing plate construction (see photo, below
left). Later on this was changed to a more rounded off design. Note also that the wing glove
fences (or external stiffeners) on top of the fuselage were reduced in size. These wing fences give the sealing plates more structural stiffness and represent the "inadequacies of the designer", in other words they are an aftertought to correct an unforeseen aerodynamic characteristic in the performance of the aircraft.
Click on image-icons to view an enlarged photo:
|
