Cubdriver

Again, the statistical likelihood of a triple engine failure (apu too) can be determined using existing data which has to have an exceedingly low chance of that happening. I doubt that's the problem with blown aerodynamics, although porous panel contamination may introduce a new twist. We already have reliable technology for bird and ice protection, dirt contamination is just another one. Short of a massive insect swarm or volcano ash I do not see it being a major issue. Cleanliness of porous panels can be monitored using an array of pressure transducers in the air lines with automated computer monitoring for the whole thing, all the pilot sees is an abnormal message if there is one. Another thought is, if truly terrible bug swarms are a serious risk to blown aircraft, then swarm forecasting could be added as a branch of meteorological science. Flight into regions of known severe insect swarms prohibited, might be a limitation.

Yoda2

What if you had porous panels and somebody waxed the plane?

rickair7777

What if somebody waxed the static ports?

Yoda2

Probably not a major issue compared to others; just pulled that from the "If it can be done, it will be done" file...

Flightcap

What if somebody duct tapes the static ports?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b-F6zNBURk

http://code7700.com/mishap_aeroperu_603.html

Flightcap

Someone earlier mentioned using air ducts from the leading edges to channel air to the tail. It seems to me that would be the far more reliable option and wouldn't load the crew with another system to configure correctly.

strfyr51

the 787-9 has a boundary layer control on the horizontal stabilizer from a scoop on the vertical Stabilizer

Cubdriver

Another news clip related to this. A couple of people on this thread mentioned passive air jets or channels in contrast to a powered boundary layer enhancement system.

More Efficient Tail To Be Tested

The Smithsonian (12/1, Iozzio) interviewed Israel Wygnanski, a professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona. He worked on a tail for Boeing’s test plane, the 757 ecoDemonstrator, scheduled to fly next year. It uses 37 small sweeping airjets to “help control steering at low speeds or in the event of an engine failure.” The team received a Group Achievement Award from NASA in October, and its work “could lead to smaller, lighter tails and more fuel efficiency in the coming decades.” Wygnanski said that the airjets can shrink fuel use by 30 percent.