Abstract: An electro-optic sensor including a cylindrical lens and a photosensitive diode array at the focal plane of the lens for measuring the angular displacement of a point light source from the neutral plane of the lens.In one application of the inventions the vibrational characteristics of an aircraft wing structure under load can be determined. A plurality of light emitters are judiciously scattered over the surface of the wing and the electro-optic sensor is attached to the fuselage. The emitters are sequentially energized and the readings of the sensor are synchronized with the emitters to provide the desired data. In other applications a pair of sensors will give two dimensional information and two pairs can be used to give three dimensional information.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft having a tail assembly supporting structure which is pivotally connected to the fuselage, and having a shrouded fan driven by an engine submerged in the fuselage, the shrouded fan being connected to and rotatable with the tail supporting structure so as to direct the slipstream of the shrouded fan over the tail assembly at all times.

Abstract: A variable focus mirror comprising a uniform elastic disk having a mirror finish on one face thereof, which is urged against an annular fulcrum concentric with the disk by a uniform force applied at the rim of the disk. This force causes the flat disk to be flexed into a substantially spherical, nearly parabolic shape. The magnitude of the force applied controls the degree of flexure and hence the focal length of the spherical mirror. For laser beam focusing the materials are selected to be able to withstand the laser energy being reflected.