Apparatus for varying inlet lip geometry of a inlet formed at forward end
portion of a jet engine housing. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a variable
camber skin portion hingedly coupled to the forward end portion of the housing.
The apparatus also includes a linkage assembly coupled to the forward end portion
and the skin portion. The linkage assembly operates to rotate the skin portion
relative to the forward end portion and to alter a curvature of the skin portion
to thereby configure the skin portion into a corresponding one of a plurality of
configurations. The plurality of configurations include at least a first configuration
and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the skin portion forms
a rounded inlet lip portion extending forwardly of the inlet. In the second configuration,
the linkage assembly and the skin portion are retracted within a recessed area
in the housing to form an aerodynamically smooth outer surface of the housing.
