Patent attributes
An airfoil structure for an aircraft includes a spanwise-extending load-carrying member, a leading-edge structure, a trailing-edge structure, an upper cover, and a lower cover. The load-carrying member is configured to react more than half of all flight loads experienced by the airfoil structure during flight and is configured to have selected stiffness properties selected such that the airfoil structure bends and twists in a predefined manner in response to applied flight loads. The leading-edge structure is configured to form a leading-edge part of an aerodynamic surface of the airfoil structure. The trailing-edge structure is configured to form a trailing edge part of the aerodynamic surface. The upper cover is configured to form an upper part of the aerodynamic surface. The lower cover is configured to form a lower part of the aerodynamic surface.
