Abstract: A latch including a first electrical explosive device disposed between first and second surfaces and a second electrical explosive device disposed between said first and second surfaces in series with said first electrical explosive device. In the illustrative embodiment, the vehicle is a missile or torpedo, the first surface is a drag door and the second surface is a vehicle body. In this embodiment, the first electrical explosive device is coupled to the vehicle body on a first end of the device and to a common series attachment on another end thereof and the second electrical explosive device is connected to the common series attachment on a first end and to the drag door on a second end thereof. An arrangement is included for activating the electrical explosive devices to effect a deployment of the drag door with a high degree of reliability.

Abstract: In order to generate an efficient aerodynamic braking force, whatever the speed of a vehicle such as an airplane flying in the air, the method includes a step for the production of energy by the vehicle, a step of storage of the energy produced and a step of utilisation of such energy to drive a propeller which generates a force opposing the forward motion of the vehicle. Energy is produced by using the displacement of the vehicle with respect to air using a propeller driving a generator, or using the displacement with respect to the ground, using wheels driving a generator, or using generators driven by motors of the vehicle. The energy can be stored in the pneumatic, electric or kinetic form and the generation and driving means are selected according to the technology used for the storage means.

Abstract: It illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A controlled reservoir with at least 2 Adjustable holes. In our example 6 adjustable holes will able an aircraft to maneuver in 3 dimensions vectors. It will give more control to the pilot to make better and quicker maneuvers. And it can help to avoid accidents. Also it will give advantage to pilot in air to air combat.

Abstract: A (bird tail type) airplane tail section (compound delta wing design) which includes: movable wing assemblies (92), attached to a center boom pitch assembly (76). Each rear wing assembly (92) is connected to a hydraulic control system (74) that selectively moves each rear wing assembly (92) in an arc on opposite sides of the boom pitch assembly (76). Each rear wing assembly (92) includes two pivoting parabrakes (32) mounted on the top and bottom surfaces of the wing assembly (92) that moves between a flush mounted configuration to an extended, air brake configuration. Hydraulic cylinders connected to the aircraft hydraulic system (74) are used to control the wing assemblies (92) and parabrakes (32). Disposed between the proximal end of the boom pitch assembly (76) and the aircraft fuselage is the pivoting joint (100) that enables the boom pitch assembly (76) to rotate and to pivot in all direction to simulate the movement and function of a bird's tail, when a bird is in flight.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for and a method of producing aerodynamic resistance on an aircraft, comprising at least one braking flap, wherein the at least one braking flap can be extended into the airflow around the aircraft. In accordance with the invention at least one braking flap is arranged on the fuselage of the aircraft in a region over the wings of the aircraft.

Abstract: A speed brake apparatus reduces the airspeed of an aircraft by increasing aerodynamic drag. First and second brake panels are located on opposite sides of a portion of the aircraft, such as the fuselage, and are adapted to swing outward about a downstream hinge axis into deployed positions extending into the air stream. The panels are controlled by an operating device that includes a linear actuator. The actuator moves an operating head connected to a pair of toggle assemblies to convert linear movement of the operating head to the deployment and retraction movement of the brake panels.

Abstract: An aerodynamic including a main body and a control member. The main body is configured to be connected to a wing of an aircraft. The control member is connected to the main body, the control member including a fixed member secured to the main body and a pivotable member configured to increase a drag of the aircraft without substantially changing a lift of the aircraft.

Abstract: An aerodynamic including a main body and a control member. The main body is configured to be connected to a wing of an aircraft. The control member is connected to the main body, the control member including a fixed member secured to the main body and a pivotable member configured to increase a drag of the aircraft without substantially changing a lift of the aircraft.

Abstract: A method of controlling a landing guide path of an aircraft and a method of steeping a landing guide path of an aircraft include rotating a portion of an aerodynamic component to increase a drag without influencing a lift. A method of controlling a landing guide path of an aircraft including an aerodynamic component having a main portion and a control portion, the main portion connected to a wing of the aircraft, and the control portion including a fixed member connected to a pivotable member. The method includes rotating the pivotable member to increase a drag without influencing a lift.

Abstract: A (bird tail type) airplane tail section (coumpound delta wing design) which includes: movable wing assemblies (92), attached to a center boom pitch assembly (76). Each rear wing assembly (92) is connected to a hydraulic control system (74) that selectively moves each rear wing assembly (92) in an arc on opposite sides of the boom pitch assembly (76). Each rear wing assembly (92) includes two pivoting parabrkaes (32) mounted on the top and bottom surfaces of the wing assembly (92) that moves between a flush mounted configuration to an extended, air brake configuration. Hydraulic cylinders connected to the aircraft hydraulic system (74) are used to control the wing assemblies (92) and parabrakes (32). Disposed between the proximal end of the boom pitch assembly (76) and the aircraft fuselage is the pivoting joint (100) that enables the boom pitch assembly (76) to rotate and to pivot in all direction to simulate the movement and function of a bird's tail, when a bird is in flight.

Abstract: A braking device for increasing the drag coefficient of an associated shell at a desired point while in flight is described. The device comprises: at least two braking vane means which, when released, extend substantially symmetrically into a surrounding airstream while said shell is in flight; retaining means for maintaining said at least two vane means in a retracted first position out of said airstream during an initial portion of said flight; releasing means to allow said at least two vanes to extend to a second position into said airstream at a desired point during said flight; said at least two vane means being extended by centrifugal force due to rotation of said associated shell about its axis; and, said at least two vane means further including co-operating means to ensure substantially symmetrical extension into said airstream.

Abstract: The aerial refueling drogue utilizes a bleeding drogue canopy providing substantially constant loads over a range of refueling speeds, by passive movement of the bleeding drogue between a retracted position and and extended position. The passive variable speed drogue comprises leading edge support arms, center support arms, and trailing edge support arms mounted to a refueling coupling member, with a forward drogue canopy attached between the leading edge support arms and the center support arms. An aft bleeding drogue canopy is connected between the center support arms and the trailing edge support arms. Springs in the trailing edge support arms bias the bleeding drogue canopy to a retracted position. In an alternate embodiment, cords are attached to the trailing edge of the aft bleeding drogue canopy, continue through the trailing edge support arms, up each center support arm, and through rings attached to the inside of the aft bleeding drogue canopy.

Abstract: To control and particularly steepen the landing glide path of an aircraft, a respective aerodynamic component mounted on each wingtip includes a fixed plane member and a pivotable control element pivotally connected to the fixed plane member. The pivot axis is perpendicular to the major plane of the wing. The pivotable control element can be selectively pivotally deflected about the pivot axis relative to the fixed plane member, so as to thereby increase the overall drag without influencing the overall lift of the aircraft. This achieves a fine adjustment that is superimposed on the basic landing configuration established by the setting of the flaps, spoilers, engine thrust, etc. By increasing the drag without influencing the lift, this steepens the landing glide path slope.

Abstract: A spin-stabilised artillery projectile (11) can be easily subsequently fitted with an axially symmetrical aerodynamic braking device for reducing the ballistic trajectory if the tip (14) which is equipped with the fuse (13) and which is easily removable from the projectile body (12) is equipped at approximately half its height with flap-shaped sectors (24) which are pivotably mounted in such a way that they can be pivotably extended and which in their launch position fit snugly into the conical peripheral surface of the tip (14) and in the operative position are pivotably extended to form a radial ring which is closed or which has gaps.

Abstract: An automatic pilot system for a model airplane comprising one or more flexible control elements. When installed on a vertical stabilizer of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic rudder which provides directional control for the airplane so that it takes off in a straight line at high speed and glides in a circular path of a predetermined radius at low speed. When installed on a horizontal stabilizer of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic elevator which provides a reduced angle of attack during take-off to minimize the aerodynamic drag, an increased angle of attack during gliding flight to make the flight slower and longer-lasting, and an even greater angle of attack during landing to make the landing even slower for safety. When installed on a wing of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic dihedral wing tip which provides increased lateral stability for the airplane.

Abstract: A wing mounted yaw control device is disclosed. The wing mounted yaw control device includes a spoiler hingedly mounted on a first wing surface and a deflector hingedly mounted on a second wing surface. A deployment mechanism is provided to effect simultaneous deployment of the spoiler and deflector. During operation, the spoiler and deflector are selectively deployed in order to impart an unbalanced drag force on one wing, thereby imparting the desired yaw moment to an aircraft in flight.

Abstract: An aircraft braking system including a port formed in a side of an airplane. The port has an openable door disposed therein. The openable door is in operative communication with a computerized hydraulic system of the airplane whereby the openable door will open once the airplane begins a turn and will not close until the turn is complete.

Abstract: A translational braking device for a projectile on its trajectory. The device has at least two air brakes made in the form of flaps that are moved in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the projectile to increase the aerodynamic drag of the projectile. Each flap has at least two closed grooves, extending essentially parallel to a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the projectile, each groove cooperating with a rod that is fixed with respect to the projectile.

Abstract: The invention is a material for use in an inflatable aerodynamic braking device for a spacecraft. In detail, the invention includes a plurality of high temperature resistant barrier outer layers. Preferably, the outer layer is made of Aluminoborosilicate fabric. At least one carbon cloth layer is disposed behind said outer layers. A plurality of thermal radiation barrier intermediate layers are disposed behind the at least one carbon cloth layer. The intermediate layers include a plurality of metal foil layers, at least one additional carbon cloth layer interspersed between the metal foil layers. A plurality of metal-coated polymeric layers are disposed behind the metal foil layers, preferably a polyimide fabric coated with Aluminum. The metal foil layers are Aluminum and Titanium. At least one inflatable gas barrier interior layer is disposed behind the intermediate layers, preferably made of a polyimide material.

Abstract: A drogue assembly (10) for in flight refueling includes a circumferenal array of triangular support arms which carry a drogue parachute (29) which extends circumferentially around their shorter sides. Each support arm is pivoted and mounted on a pivot pin (19) at its apex for pivotal movement in a radial direction. At least alternate ones of the support arms carry leaf springs which extend into pockets (51) formed in the drogue parachute (29). The leaf springs act on the drogue parachute (29) in opposition to air pressure loading on it in flight so that it tends to increase the chord angle of the drogue parachute (29) from the leading edge. Hence the effective area of the drogue parachute in flight is varied automatically above a certain predetermined minimum which depends on the dimensions of the trailing edge so it is reduced as air speed is increased and vice versa.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating large drag forces on an object moving through a gas or liquid for braking and/or turning the object by deploying on the exterior surface of an object a very large number of very small surfaces that are aligned perpendicular to the local surface low direction. The large drag force results from the summation of a very large number of very small drag forces generated by each of the very small surfaces as the local flow separates on the downstream side of each of the very small surfaces. The very large number of very small surfaces of the novel device are selectively actuated and extended into the gas or fluid stream that is moving along the body of an air vehicle, ground vehicle, or water vehicle to produce a large drag value. The present invention is also comprised of a means to retract and stow the very small surfaces that have been extended into the gas or fluid stream passing over the vehicle.

Abstract: It is known to use a rigid cone to provide stability to a body being towed by an aircraft. However, such cones are useful over a limited range of speeds. The invention provides a drag-producing aerodynamic device in which the cross-sectional area of the structure producing drag is variable. The cross-sectional area of the structure producing drag decreases as the towing speed, and hence the dynamic air pressure acting on the structure producing drag, increases and vice versa.

Abstract: An airbrake located on the wing of an aircraft between a rear spar and a wing flap comprises two panels aligned with the upper surface of the wing when the airbrake is closed. In the open state or fully deployed position, the two panels are contiguous and behave as a single panel. However, in the intermediate states, the panel closest to the flap is deflected more than the other panel, so that a slot is formed between them. This slot makes it possible to significantly decrease turbulence on either side of the airbrake when the latter is used in low deflection flight.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the velocity of a rider in or on an open cockpit vehicle when the rider is thrown from the vehicle are disclosed. The present invention provides a drag-reducing device such as a parachute or parawing that is affixed to the rider so that when a crash occurs, the rider is slowed down after ejection and therefore more likely to survive the crash without severe injuries. The present invention is preferably used in conjunction with a motorcycle and includes a sensor system for sensing the imminence or occurrence of a crash an/or the ejection of the rider from the vehicle. A transmitter receiver system is used to relay a signal to a deployment system that is attached to the rider as part of a system containing the drag inducing device, which rapidly deployed, thereby causing the velocity of the ejected rider to be reduced and providing the further benefit of lifting the rider away from the crash site.

Abstract: A spoiler flap is pivotably mounted to the rearward portion of a wind turbine blade or wing to control or influence air flow over the surface of the blade or wing. The spoiler flap has forward and rearward edges. The spoiler flap can be pivoted to simultaneously raise the forward edge (into low pressure flow) and lower the rearward edge of the spoiler flap (into high pressure flow). The extent to which the spoiler flap is pivoted determines the extent to which the air flow over the surface of the blade or wing is influenced. When the spoiler flap is fully deployed or pivoted, it serves as a braking device. When it is only partially pivoted, it serves the function of power modulation.

Abstract: A free wing aircraft including a free wing pivotally supported about a spanwise axis for flight in a free wing mode of operation with respect to the fuselage is disclosed. The free wing is capable of being deflected into a nose down configuration sufficient to create an aerodynamic braking effect to decrease air speed after landing upon roll-out. This aerodynamic braking effect can also be sufficient to create negative lift that plants the aircraft firmly down, increasing the coefficient of friction and allowing the aircraft brakes to be more effective relative to a fixed wing aircraft at touchdown.

Abstract: An ablative fibrous ceramic article comprises a honeycomb core having a plurality of cells, fibrous ceramic insulation (including fibers, microballoons, microparticles, or mixtures thereof) at least partially filling each cell of the core and forming a porous sheet on one face of the core, and, optionally, an ablative material infused into a portion of the porous sheet. Such an article is a candidate for fabricating an effective lunar/Martian aerobrake.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for decelerating and absorbing impact of a re-entry vehicle suitable for payloads that are relatively light as well as payloads weighing several tons or more. The apparatus includes four inflatable legs displaced equidistantly from each other around a capsule or housing which contains a payload. The legs are inflated at a designated altitude after entering Earth's atmosphere to slow the descent of the re-entry vehicle. Connected between each of the four legs are drag inducing surfaces that deploy as the legs inflate. The drag inducing surfaces are triangularly shaped with one such surface being connected between each pair of legs for a total of six drag inducing surfaces. The legs have drag inducing outer surfaces which act to slow the descent of the re-entry vehicle.

Abstract: An aircraft speedbrake is integrated into a jet engine exhaust nozzle. A first set of nozzle flaps which are normally out of the airstream, are extended into the airstream to create drag on the airframe and thereby act as speedbrakes. A second set of nozzle flaps are opened when the first set of nozzle flaps are extended into the airstream, to simultaneously spoil the thrust of the engine.

Abstract: Deployable device composed of rigid panels connected by articulations to a support (2). First panels (4), or arms, pivoting more than second panels (6), or main panels, in order to move from the folded-up position to the deployed position, are preferably smaller than the said second panels. Triangular linking panels (7) are placed between the first and second panels and articulated on them. The actuating means preferably lock the device both in the deployed position and in the folded-up position.

Abstract: Reverser doors on an aircraft are to be opened, closed and splayed to effect pitch and yaw control in combination with reverse thrust. A first actuator achieves open and close control. A second actuator achieves splay control through a linkage, with the first actuator located within the linkage.

Abstract: A curved grid fin that is constructed of strips of thin gauge metal such as teel honeycomb secured together in a grid pattern with the honeycomb structure enclosed around a periphery thereof by a thin support structure that is secured thereto in a conventional manner and with a base structure secured to the thin support structure to provide a fin that is designed to be mounted on a missile to provide a fin structure that can control or guide a missile as well as provide a breaking or deceleration means for control of a missile or payload.

Abstract: An emergency spin recovery parachute is housed within a centrally mounted housing on the aft end of an aircraft and is connected to a ring fitting within the housing. Two selectively latching shackles, connected to separate towlines are openly disposed adjacent the ring fitting. The towlines extend in opposite directions from the housing along the aircraft wing to attachment points adjacent the wing-tips, where the other end of each towline is secured. Upon pilot command, one of the open shackles latches to the ring fitting to attach the towline connected thereto, and a second command signal deploys the parachute. Suitable break-away straps secure the towlines to the aircraft surface until the parachute is deployed and the resulting force on the towline attached to the parachute overcomes the straps and permits the towline to extend to the point of attachment to exert sufficient drag on the spinning aircraft to permit the pilot to regain control of the aircraft.

Abstract: A decelerator structure for attachment to a munition to be deployed formed of a first triangular section of cloth with apexes and straight sides to provide a back wall and a second equally shaped and sized section of material to form a front wall with the sections joined and having scoops at the apexes on the front wall with openings inside the scoops with a central anchor on the front wall so that the walls expand equally due to inner air pressure to form a rounded rear wall and a rounded forward wall with straight sides.

Abstract: An aircraft with no separate elevators in the tail end of the fuselage and having wings arranged approximately in the middle portion of the fuselage, is improved by a single flap on the underside of the wings for extending down to a variable degree and being arranged at a point between 49 and 54% of the local chord depth as measured from the leading edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and unique structure in a collapsible decelerator for aerial bodies launched from a high velocity vehicle and designed to provide a high drag stabilizer capable of withstanding release in air stream velocities from subsonic to supersonic. The decelerator preferably includes a hollow inflatable star, the outermost points of which have hooded valve openings through which regulated airflow enters and inflates the star to decelerate the body to which it is attached. The new and unique capability comprises an angular offset of each air scoop to create desired rotational speed in the selected direction.The amount of angular offset and protrusion into the air stream controls the magnitude of spin rate, the direction of angular offset controls the direction of spin.

Abstract: A recovery system for decelerating/stabilizing and protecting space vehicles, boosters, astronauts, equipment and like payloads, including a paracanopy defined by a frusto-conical flexible uninflated skin forming a decelerator/stabilizer surface having a small inflated torus at it leading end and a larger trailing torus at its trailing end with an inflated annular protective sheath therebetween protecting the payload housed therein, duct means between the toruses and the annular sheath for forming a fluidically rigidified frame, and the fluidically rigidified frame maintaining the flexible skin in taut though uninflated condition during entry and recovery, The paracanopy further can include an inflated buoyant section for recovery at sea, and depending upon the payload to be recovered, the paracanopy can be deployed as a single structure from one end of the payload or from opposite ends of the payload as two separate cooperative structures.

Abstract: The speedbrake of the present invention is comprised of a housing which can be stored in a faired surface of an aircraft which is not within the aerodynamic envelope of its wing. The housing is associated with a track system which permits it to be translated between a retracted position, where it is located inside of the faired surface, and an extended position, where it protrudes into the airstream to create drag when the aircraft is in flight. Pivotally mounted in the housing are plates which rotate up into the housing when the speedbrake is retracted and extend downwardly from the housing when the speedbrake is extended. The speedbrake is installed in pairs with one being located on each side of the aircraft. One of the speedbrakes is moved between its extended and retracted positions by a motor and the other speedbrake is connected to the motor-powered one by cables.

Abstract: A toy car with a parachute is disclosed in which the toy car, such as a formula type car with a rearwing, is formed with a running car body and a parachute-discharging device capable of accomodating and discharging the parachute which, in turn, may be hauled by the running car body with the parachute being open and in the air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in a collapsible decelerator for aerial bombs launched from a high velocity vehicle and designed to provide a high drag stabilizer capable of withstanding release in air stream velocities from subsonic to transonic. The decelerator preferably includes a hollow inflatable star, the outermost points of which have hooded valve openings through which regulated airflow enters and inflates the star to decelerate the munition to which it is attached. The improvement comprises an offset mounting piece to create a side force on the decelerator, expanding the coverage pattern of deployed bodies. The amount of offset controls the magnitude of the side or lateral force on the device during descent.

Abstract: In order to achieve fine control of the velocity of an aircraft flying a predetermined flight path at a predetermined nominal speed in the presence of such perturbations as wind gusts, a low inertia, fast acting device is extended or deployed into the aircraft dragstream and is rapidly position-modulated in response to sensed acceleration/deceleration to instantaneously slightly alter the total system drag to an amount which causes the aircraft to maintain the predetermined velocity. Among the exemplary alternative low inertia devices disclosed are: fuselage and wing mounted flaps which are rapidly more or less extended, a trailing cable which is rapidly reeled in or out, and a trailing inflatable member whose degree of inflation is rapidly changed, all in response to sensed acceleration/deceleration from an on-board system.

Abstract: In order to achieve fine control of the velocity of an aircraft flying a predetermined flight path at a predetermined nominal speed in the presence of such perturbations as wind gusts, a low inertia, fast acting device is extended or deployed into the aircraft dragstream and is rapidly position-modulated in response to sensed acceleration/deceleration to instanteneously slightly alter the total system drag to an amount which causes the aircraft to maintain the predetermined velocity. Among the exemplary alternative low inertia devices disclosed are: fuselage and wing mounted flaps which are rapidly more or less extended, a trailing cable which is rapidly reeled in or out, and a trailing inflatable member whose degree of inflation is rapidly changed, all in response to sensed acceleration/deceleration from an on-board system.

Abstract: A flying wing aircraft control for angle of attack and direction thereof, comprising retractile controlling surfaces rearward of the center of lift and along the trailing edges and extensible over the top and bottom cambers of the wing in spaced relation to the trailing portions thereof and with variable angular dispositions with respect to air flow over the cambers so as to establish the desired moment arm with respect to the lift center of the flying wing to control the same into and out of a nose-up attitude with respect to the line of flight and with respect to direction, as required.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsable decelerator for aerial bombs launched from a high velocity vehicle and designed to provide a high drag stabilizer capable of withstanding release in air stream velocities moving at 2600 feet per second. The deceleration includes a hollow inflatable star, the outermost points of which have hooded valve openings through which regulated airflow enters and inflates the star to decelerate the munition to which it is attached.

Abstract: A device which corrects aerodynamic spin wherein a parachute 38 exerts anti-spin forces on an aircraft 10 to effect spin recovery. The dual parachute towlines 30 and 32 are each attached to the parachute 38 and are attached to the rear fuselage equidistant to and on opposite sides of the aircraft centerline, at 25 and 27. As the parachute 38 is deployed during spin, the parachute force 40 acts through only the towline 30, and exerts its force outboard of center on the aircraft 10. As a result, the parachute exerts not only an anti-spin torque, but additionally causes the aircraft to roll, creating a gyroscopic anti-spin rolling moment. The additional anti-spin rolling moment facilitates spin recovery by permitting a relatively smaller parachute to accomplish spin recovery equivalent to that of a larger parachute attached to the center of the rear fuselage.

Abstract: Liquid hydrogen stored aboard a space vehicle, and constituting a fuel for use in the vehicle's main rocket motor, is introduced, in a gaseous state, into an inflatable aerodynamic braking member, for moving it from a collapsed stored position outwardly into an inflated operational position. Such member provides a large area braking surface which extends generally laterally outwardly from the space vehicle. During reentry the space vehicle is oriented to reenter nozzle end first. Fuel is consumed within the rocket motor to produce gases which are discharged out through the rocket nozzle to provide a cooling layer of gases forwardly of the large area braking surface. A space vehicle equipped with such an aerodynamic braking system is operated to reenter into the atmosphere. The drag produced by the braking member slows the space vehicle down and then the space vehicle is set into a low earth orbit.

Abstract: One of several inventions claimed is a method of providing increased traction to the driving wheels of a high speed transportation vehicle. The vehicle is placed within a tubular passageway, equipped with wheels arranged to contact the tube at three or more equidistant contact points, and these wheels are pressed against the inside surface of the tube by means of controlled application of powerful hydraulic pressure. Vertical stability of the vehicle is achieved by a new apparatus comprised of a spoke attached to the vehicle which projects outward to a point adjacent to but not touching the tube, a set of wheels transversely mounted on each side of the spoke, and a pair of L-shaped guide rails between which the wheels roll. An improved wind resisting braking system is claimed which uses extendable baffle plates and air ports from which compressed air is ejected in a direction opposed to the direction of travel.

Abstract: A space vehicle 10 is steered from outer space toward the earth's atmosphere main rocket nozzle end first. An inflatable braking member 28 is deployed around the vehicle 10 by introducing gas into it. The main rocket motor 16 is ignited to produce a substantially throttled stream of gases. This stream provides a cooling layer forwardly of the braking member 28 to protect the member 28 from heating by friction with the atmosphere. The reduction of the velocity of the vehicle 10 is controlled by directly varying the drag of the vehicle 10 to compensate for variations in the density of the atmosphere. The drag is varied by varying the thrust of the motor 16 and/or varying the shape of the member 28. A backup method is to deflate the member 28 in the atmosphere. The member 28 may be jettisoned after the vehicle 10 leaves the atmosphere to enter a low earth orbit.

Abstract: A yaw control arrangement for tailless aircraft utilizing a plurality of rudder-like surfaces which are normally retracted into the surface of an aircraft wing and extended only momentarily on demand to generate a yawing moment. The surfaces are mounted on a wing surface by hinges which are canted with respect to the free stream flow. In this manner, the extended deployed surfaces are given an angle of attack to the free stream flow to produce a lift force at essentially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft arresting system providing a controlled, gradual aircraft deceleration is disclosed. The system includes an arresting barrier comprised of a triggering net/parachute combination. The triggering net is aligned transversely to the runway and is actuated by contact with the aircraft nose landing gear. An engaging cable, releasably retained on the triggering net, is then thrust upwardly to entangle the aircraft main landing gear. A pair of parachutes, attached to the engaging cable, are deployed as a result of the continued aircraft motion. Once deployed, the parachutes provide the desired gradual decelerative force to slow the aircraft. The preferred embodiment of the aircraft arresting system includes three arresting barriers spaced a distance longitudinally on the runway to provide a reliable aircraft engagement and a controlled rate of arrest.