Revisiting the Ball-Bartoe Jetwing and other USB Powered Lift Aircraft: Lessons Learned

This paper will revisit an area of STOL operations and Powered Lift aircraft design that has been limited in scope, and at best, very specialized when it comes to research, aircraft manufacture, and experimentation. Five aircraft have been flown successfully using the Upper Surface Blowing (USB) powered lift configuration: The Ball-Bartoe Jetwing, the Boeing YC-14, the Antonov An-72, the NASA / Boeing QSRA experimental aircraft, and the National Aerospace Laboratory Aska STOL Research aircraft. A background of the technology will be given, what connects them as far as USB technology, discuss the main lessons learned, and briefly dwell on other configurations that are close relatives of the USB configuration. An extensive review of the existing USB literature will be fundamental for the development of this paper. Although all the unclassified USB projects that have been constructed and tested will be discussed (successful and unsuccessful), the main thrust of the paper will be the Ball-Bartoe Jetwing and the contributions of this unique research aircraft to the USB powered lift configuration. The body of work conducted by Dr. Ralph D. Kimberlin and his associates will be described in detail as well as lessons learned on the test program that could aid future USB powered lift designers.