Heavy Metal Makes Lighter Planes

by Patrick Gray Wired News, 27 Sep 2005 The distinctive growl of a light plane may soon be accompanied by an eerie hum, thanks to Australian research that shows the effectiveness of aircraft wings is dramatically increased when sound is applied to them. Qantas engineer Ian Salmon tested wing sections covered with a piezoelectric material that vibrates when a current is applied to it. When the tone of the sound was at its most effective pitch, Salmon's wing panel achieved 22 percent more lift than it would have without the piezoelectric hum. Read more