Flight Testing of the PROPWING Airplane Propulsion Concept

The PROPWING denotes a novel propulsion concept for light airplanes, sailplanes and motorgliders, originally proposed by the authors. A number of small electric motors are installed in the wings. The motors with propellers in horizontal position are hidden inside the wing, so in a standup position, no aerodynamic drag is generated by the propulsion system. In the working position, the propellers rotate throughout openings in the wing skin. The paper includes results obtained during a flight test campaign, performed with a radio controlled model, equipped with the PROPWING propulsion.