History Leading-edge slat

a319 slats during landing

slats first developed gustav lachmann in 1918. crash in august 1917, rumpler c aeroplane on account of stalling caused idea put in concrete form, , small wooden model built in 1917 in cologne. in 1918, lachmann presented patent leading-edge slats in germany. however, german patent office @ first rejected office did not believe in possibility of increasing lift dividing wing.

independently of lachmann, handley page ltd in great britain developed slotted wing way postpone stall reducing turbulence on wing @ high angles of attack, , applied patent in 1919; avoid patent challenge, reached ownership agreement lachmann. year de havilland d.h.9 fitted slats , flown. later, d.h.4 modified monoplane large wing fitted full span leading edge , ailerons (i.e. later called flaps) deployed in conjunction leading-edge slats test improved low speed performance. several years later, having subsequently taken employment @ handley-page aircraft company, lachmann responsible number of aircraft designs, including handley page hampden.

licensing design became 1 of company s major sources of income in 1920s. original designs in form of fixed slot in front of wing, design found on number of stol aircraft.

during world war ii, german aircraft commonly fitted more advanced version pushed flush against wing air pressure reduce drag, popping out when angle of attack increased during slower flight. notable slats of time belonged german fieseler fi 156 storch. these similar in design retractable slats, fixed non-retractable slots. slotted wing allowed aircraft take off light wind in less 45 m (150 ft), , land in 18 m (60 ft). aircraft designed messerschmitt company employed automatic, spring-loaded leading-edge slats general rule, except alexander lippisch-designed messerschmitt me 163b komet rocket fighter, used fixed slots built integrally with, , behind wing panel s outer leading edges instead.

post world war ii, slats have been operated hydraulics or electricity on larger aircraft.

in 1993, china eastern airlines flight 583 had make emergency landing after accidentally deploying slats @ cruise speed, caused severe oscillations.