Abstract: A lift generating method and apparatus for aircraft is provided which generates lift in forward flight, in vertical flight or while hovering. A disk (24) is positioned between first and second counterrotating blade assemblies (22 and 36). The disk (24) generates lift in vertical flight or while hovering due to radial flow of air over an upper surface (28) thereof. In forward flight, the disk (24) functions as a fixed wing to generate lift. The assemblies (22 and 36) may be rotated to provide equal and opposite torques so that a torque compensating tail rotor is unnecessary.

Abstract: A nested fiberglass structure (10) comprises a plurality of strips (66) each in the shape of a sinusoidal wave (20). The waves (20) have peaks (22) and valleys (24) which have equal amplitudes about a central axis (26). A positioning string (32) is placed over the peaks (22) and into the valleys (24) to provide a guide for the depth of penetration of adjacent strips during nesting of the strips (66). The structure (10) may be formed on an apparatus for manufacturing (46) which forms a continuous web (48) into the strips (66) and nests the strips (66) into the structure (10). The structure (10) may then be wound onto a reel (154) for fabrication into a cylindrical structure (34). The apparatus (136) spirally winds the nested structure (10) around a mandrel (182) to form the cylindrical structure (34).

Abstract: A nested fiberglass structure (10) comprises a plurality of strips (66) each in the shape of a sinusoidal wave (20). The waves (20) have peaks (22) and valleys (24) which have equal amplitudes about a central axis (26). A positioning string (32) is placed over the peaks (22) and into the valleys (24) to provide a guide for the depth of penetration of adjacent strips during nesting of the strips (66). The structure (10) may be formed on an apparatus for manufacturing (46) which forms a continuous web (48) into the strips (66) and nests the strips (66) into the structure (10). The structure (10) may then be wound onto a reel (154) for fabrication into a cylindrical structure (34). The apparatus (136) spirally winds the nested structure (10) around a mandrel (182) to form the cylindrical structure (34).

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for producing honeycomb paneling comprising the steps of supplying two continuous webs of felted fibrous material, continuously impregnating each web with a liquid resin, continuously applying the webs to the two major faces of a rigid pre-formed honeycomb core having cells extending through its thickness, applying depthwise pressure to the laminated assembly to cause the cell edges to be embedded in the thickness of each web to produce substantial fillets between the webs and cells, and curing the webs in situ to form rigid bonded panel facings of fiber reinforced plastic, and means to carry out the above method steps.