Leading edge devices are great instruments to increase the critical angle of attack and, therefore, delay

the stall.

 General understanding of effect of leading edge devices to the aircraft performance

Leading edge devices are located at the leading edge of the wing and can be deployed during
different flight phases (take off, landing and cruise) in order to improve the aerodynamic
performances of the the aircraft. More generally they are used during take off and landing to
increase the lift and so be able to reduce the landing speed, or increase lift for take off. Also leading
edge devices will create drag but the overall Lift to drag ratio is still an advantage. Following on this,
the leading edge devices are retracted for cruise to decrease the drag and so have clean airfoil
profile which is more efficient for cruise condition.

 History of leading edge device

The leading edge devices were used on early aircraft to improve the performance of the aircraft. One
of the pioneer of the leading edge device was Handley Page who first tried this on his aircraft. First
of all he used a fixed leading edge slat which provided him with high lift coefficient but the associated
drag was detrimental to maximum speed. Handley page then tried to have an automatic deployment
of the leading edge slat using the aerodynamic forces at the leading edge (suction). As the aircraft
take off and land the speed see for more information http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/History-of-LE-
devices

Leading Edge Devices:

a. Fixed Slots

- direct airflow to the upper wing surface and delay airflow separation at higher angles of attack

b. Movable slats

- consist of leading edge segments that move on tracks. At low angles of attack, each slat is held flush
against the wing’s leading edge by the high pressure that forms at the wing’s leading edge.

c. Leading edge flap

- used to increase both CL-MAX and the camber of the wings

- frequently used in conjunction with trailing edge flaps and can reduce the nose-down pitching
movement produced by the latter

d. Leading edge cuffs

- used to increase both CL-MAX and the camber of the wings

- Unlike leading edge flaps and trailing edge flaps, leading edge cuffs are fixed aerodynamic devices.

- In most cases, leading edge cuffs extend the leading edge down and forward. This causes the airflow to
attach better to the upper surface of the wing at higher angles of attack, thus lowering an aircraft’s stall
speed.

e. AUTOMATIC SLATS

- They open and close aerodynamically. When air approaches the leading edge of an airfoil, it divides;
some flowing over the top of the wing and some flowing over the bottom. The spot where the airflow
splits is called the "stagnation point. "When the airfoil is at a low angle of attack, the stagnation point is
on the leading edge. When the airfoil is at a high angle of attack, the stagnation point moves below the
leading edge and behind the slat. Air flowing up and over the wing pushes the slat open.

f. POWERED SLATS

- They appear on many large aircraft and provide the same benefits as an automatic slat. However, they
are electrically or hydraulically powered - increasing reliability.