Abstract: A financial and computer system for conducting commerce using electricity-backed certificates, comprising: a physical certificate or electronic representation thereof having a face value and denominated in units of electricity representing a specified amount of electricity to be provided to a user thereof, wherein said certificate has an indefinite lifetime, identifies an issuer and has a signature for verifying authenticity; wherein said certificate circulates to purchase general items of commerce; wherein any certificate holder may tender it to the issuer as payment for said specified amount of electricity; and wherein said specified amount of electricity is provided to a user thereof, which electricity is paid for by the issuer in redemption of said tendered certificate.

Abstract: A lifting-fuselage/wing aircraft having low drag at a selected cruise condition. The aircraft includes (a) a lifting fuselage having a cross-section constituting an airfoil in a majority of vertical planes taken parallel to the flight direction and an aspect ratio (AR.sub.f) of 0.33 to 1.10; (b) wings fixed to the fuselage having an aspect ratio (AR.sub.w) of at least 5.0; (c) a mechanism controlling aircraft attitude; and (d) a mechanism propelling the aircraft; wherein the wings and fuselage produce lift in varying proportions depending upon flight conditions as follows: (i) the aircraft has a cruise design point in which the fuselage lift coefficient (C.sub.LF) is 0.08 or less, and (ii) the fuselage lift coefficient is at least 0.50 at an angle of attack (.alpha..sub.LZo) of 10.degree., in level flight at sea level (ISA) with all movable lift enhancing devices retracted.

Abstract: A lifting-fuselage/wing aircraft having low drag at a selected cruise condition. The aircraft includes (a) a lifting fuselage having a cross-section constituting an airfoil in a majority of vertical planes taken parallel to the flight direction and an aspect ratio (AR.sub.f) of 0.33 to 1.10; (b) wings fixed to the fuselage having an aspect ratio (AR.sub.w) of at least 5.0; (c) a mechanism controlling aircraft attitude; and (d) a mechanism propelling the aircraft; wherein the wings and fuselage produce lift in varying proportions depending upon flight conditions as follows: (i) the aircraft has a cruise design point in which the fuselage lift coefficient (C.sub.LF) is 0.08 or less, and (ii) the fuselage lift coefficient is at least 0.50 at an angle of attack (.alpha..sub.LZo) of 10.degree., in level flight at sea level (ISA) with all movable lift enhancing devices retracted.

Abstract: An aircraft having an elliptical fuselage and low skin friction drag. The aircraft includes(a) a lifting fuselage having a cross-section constituting an airfoil in a majority of vertical planes taken parallel to the flight direction, an aspect ratio (AR.sub.f) of 0.33 to 1.10, a forebody having a substantially elliptic cross-section in all planes taken normal to the flight direction, and a substantially elliptic planform leading edge;(b) wings fixed to the fuselage having an aspect ratio (AR.sub.w) of at least 5.0;(c) a mechanism controlling aircraft attitude; and(d) a mechanism propelling the aircraft;wherein the wings and fuselage produce lift in varying proportions depending upon flight conditions as follows:(i) the aircraft has a cruise design point in which the fuselage lift coefficient (C.sub.LF) is 0.08 or less, and(ii) the fuselage lift coefficient is at least 0.50 at an angle of attack (.alpha..sub.LZo) of 10.degree.