Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing flying-wing aircraft has a pair of thrust-vectoring propulsion units mounted fore and aft of the aircraft pitch axis on strakes at opposite extremities of the wing-structure, with the fore unit below, and the aft unit above, the wing-structure. The propulsion units are pivoted to the strakes, either directly or via arms, for individual angular displacement for thrust-vectored maneuvering of the aircraft in yaw, pitch and roll and for hover and forward and backward flight. When arms are employed, the arms of fore and aft propulsion units are intercoupled via chain drives or linkages. The wing-structure may have fins, slats and flaps and other aerodynamic control-surfaces, and enlarged strakes may incorporate rudder surfaces. Only one propulsion unit may be mounted at each extremity and additional fan units may be used.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flying-wing aircraft has a pair of thrust-vectoring propulsion units (2, 3; 4, 5) mounted fore and aft of the aircraft pitch axis (PA) on strakes (6, 7) at opposite extremities of the wing-structure (1), with the fore unit (2; 4) below, and the aft unit (3; 5) above, the wing-structure (1). The propulsion units (2-5) are pivoted to the strakes (6, 7), either directly or via arms (56), for individual angular displacement for thrust-vectored maneuvering of the aircraft in yaw, pitch and roll and for hover and forward and backward flight. When arms (56) are employed, the arms (56) of fore and aft propulsion units (52,54; 53,55) are intercoupled via chain drives (57-60) or linkages (61). The wing-structure (1; 51 ; 78) may have fins (47;84), slats (81) and flaps (82) and other aerodynamic control-surfaces, and enlarged strakes (84) may incorporate rudder surfaces (80).

Abstract: A ducted air power plant, comprising a motor driven fan (7) situated in a duct (4), the fan (7) having an air intake side and in operation providing a high pressure air stream in the duct, and the fan being located adjacent air splitter mechanism (18), the air splitter mechanism (18) being arranged to divert the air stream into two or more subsidiary streams for delivery to respective jet nozzles (9) of the plant. The plant may be used in a vehicle such as an aircraft in order to provide a vertical take-off and hover capability as well a level flight power source.