Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle incorporates a single engine with bifurcated exhausts which are coupled to side mounted rotating nozzles through a swivel joint. Jet deflection means are mounted to the end of the rotating nozzles to achieve additional degrees of freedom for the aircraft.

Abstract: A metal container stores a VTOL aircraft during shipment to a sea vessel or large vehicle where it then functions as a portable weather-tight hangar which can be secured in available deck space. When on board a ship's deck, the walls of the container unfold so that the structure may be converted to a take-off and landing pad that provides an exhaust system for the hot lift engine gases that eliminates the hazard to ship's crew, prevents heat damage to the deck and eliminates "suck down" effects characteristic of certain VTOL aircraft configurations. Triangular panels are removably secured together to form the cover of the container; and when unfolded and flattened, these panels are inserted in the corners of the unfolded structure so as to extend the heat shield.

Abstract: An aircraft securement device includes a sliding shaft, typically mounted to the aircraft landing gear. The shaft resembles a harpoon and is lowered through a wire grid when deployed. Tab-like members spring outwardly from the lower shaft end and engage the lower surface of a grid so as to retain the aircraft thereto.

Abstract: A method for increasing the production or manufacturing yield of a product by the application of mathematical modeling techniques on the statistical distributions of major components of the product to maximize the production yield thereof. The product is assembled from a plurality of components, each of which is produced in multiple different manufacturing lots. Initially, the statistical characteristics of significant performance specifications of each major component used in the assembly of the product are established for each manufacturing lot of that component. The statistically probable performance of the product assembled with different combinations of components from different manufacturing lots is evaluated to assess the performance sensitivity of the assembled product to different combinations of the components from different manufacturing lots.