Abstract: A truss for a flying vehicle supports a pair of wings in a manner which facilitates pivoting of the wings between a deployed configuration and a retracted configuration. The truss includes parallel top and bottom plates with the gap therebetween. The wings have wing brackets affixed thereto with the wing brackets pivotably supported by hinge assemblies to the top plate and bottom plate of the truss. Latch assemblies can be selectively actuated to secure the wing brackets and associated wings to the truss in either the deployed configuration or the retracted configuration, so that loads between the wings and the truss are primarily carried through the latch assemblies rather than through the hinge assemblies. A hinge position on the truss and on the wing brackets is selected to maximize wing length tip to tip while minimizing an outline required for the vehicle when the wings are fully retracted.

Abstract: A truss for a flying vehicle supports a pair of wings in a manner which facilitates pivoting of the wings between a deployed configuration and a retracted configuration. The truss includes parallel top and bottom plates with the gap therebetween. The wings have wing brackets affixed thereto with the wing brackets pivotably supported by hinge assemblies to the top plate and bottom plate of the truss. Latch assemblies can be selectively actuated to secure the wing brackets and associated wings to the truss in either the deployed configuration or the retracted configuration, so that loads between the wings and the truss are primarily carried through the latch assemblies rather than through the hinge assemblies. A hinge position on the truss and on the wing brackets is selected to maximize wing length tip to tip while minimizing an outline required for the vehicle when the wings are fully retracted.