Experimental study of a new method for reducing airfoil wave drag at transonic speeds

This work proposes a new method for reducing the wave drag of an airfoil at transonic speeds, which consists in creating a section of a microwaved upper surface in the local supersonic zone. Weighted and physical studies are carried out for the initial and modified airfoils. It was experimentally established that the proposed new approach results in a system of weak compression waves, a gradual deceleration of the supersonic flow, and a decrease in the Mach number before the rear shock wave–and, as a result, a decrease in its intensity weakening and a decrease in wave drag.