Grooved surfaces

[ForMuLaOne]

What I always think of is a technology used for an airplane called Starfighter, a brilliant construction by Lockheed. They had a device called BLC (boundary layer control). Using bleed air from the turbine, the boundary layer gets blown off through small slits in front of the flaps. The construction was critical, Pilots would use the jump seat and leave the plane if this system had a malfunction. But, i can imagine that this technology also works for F1. I think of cooling slits which release air under pressure for mentioned advantages. Normally you want air to be sucked out of the car, but in this case a compromise was helping boundary layer issues, in areas like the car`s floor, sidepods, bodywork itself.

[langwadt]

What I always think of is a technology used for an airplane called Starfighter, a brilliant construction by Lockheed. They had a device called BLC (boundary layer control). Using bleed air from the turbine, the boundary layer gets blown off through small slits in front of the flaps. The construction was critical, Pilots would use the jump seat and leave the plane if this system had a malfunction. But, i can imagine that this technology also works for F1. I think of cooling slits which release air under pressure for mentioned advantages. Normally you want air to be sucked out of the car, but in this case a compromise was helping boundary layer issues, in areas like the car`s floor, sidepods, bodywork itself.

aka, blown flaps, afaikt there are two systems,
-bleed compressor air over the flaps, that tend to clog
-put the flaps in the path of the exhast and they get lots of vibration

I don't think you need to bail out of a star fighter if the system failed, you "just" had to land at something like +330km/h ..

[Tommy Cookers]

240 mph ias throughout descent (400-450 real km/h)
starting at a minimum of 9000' (height above airfield)
that is a steep angle of descent

currently the C 17 military transport has such (blc to deter seperation, ie 'blown flaps')
it's useful, but cannot be certified for civil (public transport) use

blc using suction can maintain a laminar boundary layer and so reduce cruise wing drag by an order of magnitude
except if there's rain or snow or frost or dust or bugs etc .....
or mechanical failure

the groovy film or paint will delay boundary layer thickening ....... a little
but may increase maintenance costs