Abstract: A wind power system including a first pulley, a second pulley spaced from the first pulley, a continuous loop structure engaged with the first and second pulleys, a plurality of airfoils fixedly connected to the continuous loop structure, wherein the airfoils extend outward from the continuous loop structure, and a fairing positioned to direct airflow to the airfoils.

Abstract: A reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment the reconfigurable aircraft comprises a plurality of payload retainers. The payload retainers are configured to receive and retain payloads, including fuel, armaments and sensors. The aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle.

Abstract: A reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment the reconfigurable aircraft comprises a plurality of payload retainers. The payload retainers are configured to receive and retain payloads, including fuel, armaments and sensors. The aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle.

Abstract: A pulsejet is provided that includes an inlet, an exhaust nozzle, and a combustion chamber between the inlet and the exhaust nozzle. The pulsejet additionally includes a flow-turning device positioned over an end of the inlet. The flow turning device forms an air flow pathway (AFP) having a substantially 180° turn. The 180° turn aligns a direction of exhaust exiting the combustion chamber through the inlet along a positive axial thrust line and substantially parallel with exhaust exiting the combustion chamber through the nozzle.

Abstract: A linear acoustic pulsejet (LAP) including a body having a first side panel and an opposing substantially parallel second side panel. A plurality of substantially parallel intercostals are orthogonally connected to each of the first and second side panels to create a plurality of pulsejet cells within an interior of the body. The LAP additionally includes a linear inlet cap over a top of the body that forms an air flow pathway (AFP) between the linear inlet cap and an exterior of an inlet section of the body. The linear inlet cap forms the AFP to have a substantially 180° turn between an exterior of the body and an interior of the pulsejet cells.

Abstract: A horizontal augmented thrust system includes at least one wing. The wing includes a wing outer envelope, a trailing edge and a flap. At least one pulse jet engine is positioned entirely within the wing outer envelope. The pulse jet engine produces a pulsating thrust dischargeable adjacent the trailing edge of the wing and onto the flap.

Abstract: A pulsejet system and method requires no pulsejet internal moving parts. Each pulsejet includes a combustion chamber having an upstream inlet port joined to an inlet diffuser, boundary layer air ports enveloping the combustion chamber, and a downstream exit port joined to a discharge nozzle. Each pulsejet discharges into an ejector to increase net thrust. Each ejector includes an augmentor cell having side walls and perforated end plates. The perforated end plate between each pair of pulsejets is shared to permit the discharge thrust to equalize across the pulsejet group. Air and fuel mix in the combustion chamber and are detonated by a reflected back-pressure wave. Detonation/deflagration reverse pressure waves compressing boundary layer air flow act as a pneumatic throat to temporarily choke off inlet fresh air at the upstream inlet port. The pneumatic throat replaces the conventional mechanical valve used for this purpose.

Abstract: A flight capable mobile platform adapted for covert deployment is provided. The mobile platform is additionally adapted to have a reduced vulnerability to hostile detection and aggression. The mobile platform includes a fuselage having a pair of sidewalls and a bottom. The sidewalls and bottom form an armored payload bay. The mobile platform additionally includes a pair of wings connected to the fuselage. The wings have a fixed wingspan constructed such that the mobile platform can be transported by a larger second mobile platform. This allows for the mobile platform to be aerial deployed from the larger second mobile platform. Each of the sidewalls include at least one pulse ejector thrust augmentor (PETA) bank that is canted outward. Therefore, thrust exhaust produced by each PETA bank is directed down and away from a centerline of the payload bay. Furthermore, the bottom of the mobile platform is adapted to allow ingress and egress of cargo, e.g. military troops, from the payload bay.

Abstract: A modular component set is configurable to form a plurality of flight capable platforms. A plurality of end pieces each has contiguously connected curved outer portions each longitudinally expanding from a tip to terminate at a blunt attachment face. Body members have opposed ends to receive the end piece blunt attachment face, and a rectangular shaped mid-portion having opposed walls. A plurality of task specific panels are each releasably connectable to one of the opposed walls. At least one of the body members with the end pieces joined at the opposed ends, and at least one of the task specific panels connected to one of the opposed walls form a minimum component set for each of the flight capable platforms.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing vulnerability to hostile detection of and aggression towards an aircraft. The method includes adapting an aircraft fuselage to form an armored payload bay, wherein the armored payload bay includes a pair of sidewalls and a bottom. The method additionally includes adapting wings of the aircraft to allow the aircraft to be transported within a larger aircraft. For example, the wings could have a fixed wing span that allows the aircraft to transported within a larger aircraft or the wings could be adapted to fold so that the aircraft can transported within a larger aircraft. The method further includes disposing at least one pulse ejector thrust augmentor (PETA) bank within each sidewall. Each PETA bank is oriented such that a thrust exhaust produced is directed down and away from a centerline of the payload bay. Still further, the method includes adapting the bottom of payload bay to allow ingress and egress of cargo.

Abstract: A pulsejet system and method requires no pulsejet internal moving parts. Each pulsejet includes a combustion chamber having an upstream inlet port joined to an inlet diffuser, boundary layer air ports enveloping the combustion chamber, and a downstream exit port joined to a discharge nozzle. Each pulsejet discharges into an ejector to increase net thrust. Each ejector includes an augmentor cell having side walls and perforated end plates. The perforated end plate between each pair of pulsejets is shared to permit the discharge thrust to equalize across the pulsejet group. Air and fuel mix in the combustion chamber and are detonated by a reflected back-pressure wave. Detonation/deflagration reverse pressure waves compressing boundary layer air flow act as a pneumatic throat to temporarily choke off inlet fresh air at the upstream inlet port. The pneumatic throat replaces the conventional mechanical valve used for this purpose.

Abstract: An aircraft adapted for covert deployment and having low vulnerability to hostile detection and aggression is provided. The aircraft includes a fuselage having a pair of sidewalls and a bottom. The sidewalls and bottom form an armored payload bay. The aircraft additionally includes a pair of wings connected to the fuselage. The wings have a fixed wingspan constrained such that the aircraft can be transported within a larger aircraft. This allows for the aircraft to be aerial deployed from the larger aircraft. Each of the sidewalls include at least one pulse ejector thrust augmentor (PETA) bank that is canted outward. Therefore, a thrust exhaust produced by each PETA bank is directed down and away from a centerline of the payload bay. Furthermore, the bottom of the aircraft is adapted to allow ingress and egress of cargo, e.g. military troops, from the payload bay.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft includes separate axial and vertical propulsion sources. The vertical propulsion source includes pulsejet engines located in separate augmentor bays having apertured walls to equalize pulsejet thrust. The pulsejet engine structure is integrated with aircraft structure such that aircraft structural loads are partially carried by each pulsejet engine. Each pulsejet engine produces an aircraft vertical thrust component throttled or exhaust restricted to control aircraft ascent or descent separate from the axial propulsion source. One or more inlet cowls isolate the pulsejet engine bays. One or more outlet cowls at the exhaust bays assist in controlling pulsejet engine thrust.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft includes separate axial and vertical propulsion sources. The vertical propulsion source includes pulsejet engines located in separate augmentor bays having apertured walls to equalize pulsejet thrust. The pulsejet engine structure is integrated with aircraft structure such that aircraft structural loads are partially carried by each pulsejet engine. Each pulsejet engine produces an aircraft vertical thrust component throttled or exhaust restricted to control aircraft ascent or descent separate from the axial propulsion source. One or more inlet cowls isolate the pulsejet engine bays. One or more outlet cowls at the exhaust bays assist in controlling pulsejet engine thrust.

Abstract: The present invention is a thrust reversing apparatus for diverting purely rearwardly directed air flowing through an engine nacelle to combined rearward-and-radially-outward flow, and then to a combination of various radially outward angles and forward flow, where in the latter states thrust reversal is effected. The apparatus includes parallel inner and outer air flow blocking members driven by actuators which are coupled to the blocking members for effecting synchronous movement. The inner member includes a first door having fixed vanes and a solid second door pivotably coupled to the first door. The inner member has a closed position in which the two doors are collinear, and various open positions in which the two doors are pivoted relative to one another. The outer member comprises an array of pivotable, parallel vanes, and has a closed position in which the vanes tightly overlap, and various open positions in which the vanes are pivoted out of contact with each other through various amounts of rotation.