The Boeing Company
BUTTERFLY FOLDING FAIRING

Abstract:

A flap support fairing system incorporates a fairing attached to a flap and deployed downward with the flap during flap extension. The fairing has an inboard butterfly portion mounted with an inboard hinge and an outboard butterfly portion mounted with in outboard hinge. A fairing deployment mechanism is responsive to flap extension and is configured to rotate the inboard butterfly portion laterally inboard about the inboard hinge relative to an airflow direction and to rotate the outboard butterfly portion laterally outboard about the outboard hinge relative to the airflow direction. Upon flap extension, rotation of the inboard and outboard butterfly portions reduces impingement of a core engine plume on the deployed fairing.