Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) aircraft, e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), includes an elongated fuselage having a pair of forward swept wings and a pair of rearward swept canards, the outer tips of which are respectively joined with a respective tip end portion of one of the forward swept wings. The thrust outlet of a thrust-vectoring jet engine is disposed along the roll axis of the aircraft and aft of the pitch axis thereof, and a pair of downwardly exhausting ducted lift fans, e.g., tip turbine fans, are respectively disposed within a tip end portion of respective ones of the forward swept wings such that the fans are located symmetrically with respect to each other on opposite sides of the roll axis and forward of the pitch axis. The aircraft is capable of VTOL operations, including hovering, and is highly maneuverable at both very low and very high speeds.

Abstract: In one aspect, a hybrid airship including an outer shell, a plurality of helium filled gas envelopes, and an all-electric propulsion system can have a high-aspect ratio wing shape. In some embodiments, the hybrid airship may be launched using buoyancy lift alone and aerodynamic lift may be provided by the all-electric propulsion system. In one aspect, a photovoltaic array and a high energy density power storage system may be combined to power the propulsion system making the propulsion system regenerative. The high-aspect ratio wing shape provides low drag, and can allow the hybrid airship to fly at an altitude of at least about 100,000 ft. By continuously recharging the power storage system, the hybrid airship in accordance with some embodiments can stay aloft for months or even years. The hybrid airship may function as a military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and communications relay platform.

Abstract: In one aspect, a hybrid airship including an outer shell, a plurality of helium filled gas envelopes, and an all-electric propulsion system may have the shape of a delta-wing. In some embodiments, the hybrid airship may be launched using buoyancy lift alone and aerodynamic lift may be provided by the all-electric propulsion system. In one aspect, a photovoltaic array and a high energy density power storage system may be combined to power the propulsion system making the propulsion system regenerative. The delta-wing shape can provide a surface area large enough to accommodate very large circular or elliptical transmission devices. By continuously recharging the power storage system, the hybrid airship in accordance with some embodiments can stay aloft at an operational altitude of at least about 85,000 ft for months or even years. The hybrid airship may function as an airborne military communications relay platform.