Abstract: A dimensionally size-efficient aircraft being of a twin-fuselage configuration that addresses long-range high-capacity passenger commercial or military application needs, unique in that propelling engines (two, three, or four engine arrangements) are centrally mounted aft of a central cross-wing section, that section addressing the structural requirements of fuselage attachment with a means of passage between fuselages, the outer main wings being free from hanging appendages, thereby enabling efficient aerodynamic-lift wing design, the configuration using a split stabilizer and a split vertical tail for stable aerodynamic control. Engine locations are biased high and aft with the central and outer wings providing ground noise abatement while in flight, passenger cabin noise low due to aft engine locations.

Abstract: A stacked tube submunitions dispenser (11) comprises an array (15) of nested launch tube clusters (23) disposed within a dispenser envelope (19). Each cluster (23) includes a plurality of fixed launch tubes (17) uniformly arranged around the central axis of the envelope (19) so that the angle between adjacent launch tubes (17) of a cluster (23) is substantially equal. The launch tubes (17) extend rearwardly and outwardly from the central axis from the envelope (19) in a substantially conical configuration. Each launch tube (17) includes a guide surface (33) for supporting a submunition (35) in a stowed position, a guide surface (37) for guiding the submunition during a dispensing event; and means for dispensing (39, 41) the submunition. Additionally, each launch tube includes a jettisonable aerodynamic cover (21) which provides the envelope (19) with a clean aerodynamic configuration. An additional volume (43) is available rearward of the submunition (35) but inside the envelope (19).