An investigation has been conducted at low subsonic speeds to study the effects of canard planform and wing-leading-edge modification on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a general research canard airplane configuration. The basic wing of the model had a trapezoidal planform, an aspect ratio of 3.0, a taper ratio of 0.143, and an unswept 80-percent-chord line. Modifications to the wing included addition of full-span and partial-span leading-edge chord-extensions. Two canard planforms were employed in the study one was a 60° sweptback delta planform and the other was a trapezoidal planform similar to that of the basic wing. Modifications to these canards included addition of a full-span leading-edge chord-extension to the trapezoidal planform and a fence to the delta planform. For the basic-wing-trapezoidal-canard configuration, rather abrupt increases in stability occurred at about 12° angle of attack. A slight pitch-up tendency occurred for the delta-canard configuration at approximately 8° angle of attack. A comparison of the longitudinal control effectiveness for the basic-wing-trapezoidal-canard combination and for the basic-wing-delta-canard combination indicates higher values of control effectiveness at low angles of attack for the trapezoidal canard. The control effectiveness for the delta-canard configuration, however, is seen to hold up for higher canard deflections and to higher angles of attack. Use of a full-span chord-extension deflected approximately 30° on the trapezoidal canard greatly improved the control characteristics of this configuration and enabled a sizeable increase in trim lift to be realized.

An experimental investigation was made in the Mach number range from 1.60 to 2.86 to determine the static longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of close-coupled wing-canard configurations. Three canards, ranging in exposed planform area from 17.5 to 30.0 percent of the wing reference area, were employed in this investigation. The canards were either located in the plane of the wing or in a position 18.5 percent of the wing mean geometric chord above the wing plane. Most data obtained were for a model with a 60 deg leading-edge-sweep wing; however, a small amount of data were obtained for a 44 deg leading-edge-sweep wing. The model utilized two balances to isolate interference effects between wing and canard. In general, it was determined that at angle of attack for all configurations investigated with the canard in the plane of the wing an unfavorable interference exists which causes the additional lift on the canard generated by a canard deflection to be lost on the wing due to an increased downwash at the wing from the canard. Further, this interference decreased somewhat with increasing Mach number. Raising the canard above the plane of the wing also greatly decreased the interference of the canard deflection on the wing lift. However, at Mach 2.86 the presence of the canard in the high position had a greater unfavorable interference effect at high angles of attack than the canard in the wing plane. This interference resulted in the in-plane canard having better trimmed performance at Mach 2.86 for the same center-of-gravity location.

The investigation was conducted at low subsonic speeds in the Langley 300-MPH 7- by 10-foot tunnel. The basic wing was trapezoidal in planform with an aspect ratio of 3.0, a taper ratio of 0.143, and a leading-edge sweep of 38.52 degrees. Modifications to the basic wing included deflectable partial-span leading-edge chord-extensions, plain lift flaps located at the trailing edge, and split flaps located forward of the trailing edge. A trapezoidal canard surface similar in planform to the wing, a 60 degrees delta surface and a modified 60 degree delta canard suface were tested in conjunction with the wing. Use of trailing-edge flaps located on the 60 degrees delta and trapezoidal canard surfaces was also investigated as possible longitudinal controls. (Author).