Abstract: A fan jet engine mounted below and rearwardly of the wing of an aircraft. There are a pair of mounting arms which are connected to and extend rearwardly from the rear spar of the wing and connect to the fan case and the core engine case. The major portion of the cowling structure is mounted to slideways, so that the cowling structure can be moved rearwardly to expose the engine for service and repair. The thrust reverser is mounted to the rear of the cowling.

Abstract: In an aircraft arrangement comprising an aircraft fuselage provided with a wing on either side thereof and provided with a propeller propulsion system at the rear of the fuselage, the improvement comprising a propulsion system comprised of at least two independent propulsion units each mounted in its individual lateral fuselage section in a rear fuselage part formed by the central fuselage section originating from the outer contour of the main fuselage section and tapering toward the fuselage end, the lateral fuselage sections having an outer contour tapering in spindle form toward the fuselage rear to the diameter of the propeller spinner of each propulsion unit and propellers on each propulsion unit arranged behind the fuselage and the air frame.

Abstract: A shockcone and channeled disk-airframe having a top airfoil disk and lower airfoil disk comprising a wedge perimeter extending from the forward nose of a shockcone and therearound the leading edge to the trailing edge of an airframe body wherein the lower part of disk-airframe has a plurality of bottomwardly opened channels extending from the leading to the trailing edge whereto providing the channel walls. The disk-airframe has a plurality of inclined rudders operatively coupled to the vertical fins located rear on both sides of the top airfoil disk-airframe. The airframe is mushroom in sectional shape; the stem of the mushroom is the lower part of a disk-airframe and forms the depth of the fuselage and the walls of channels and the cap of the mushroom is the top airfoil disk which is convex from the wedge perimeter of the airframe within the upper part and providing the cargo space of a disk-airframe. The size of the channels is a minimum 50 percent of the width of the disk-airframe.

Abstract: An aircraft capable of vertical short takeoff and landing is shown according to the teachings of the present invention as including four separate engine locations. In its most preferred form, the first and second engines are located on opposite sides of the fuselage of the aircraft and are pivotal about first and second axes which are in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and which are in front of the center of gravity of the aircraft. The third and fourth engines are located on opposite sides of the fuselage of the aircraft and are pivotal about third and fourth pivot axes which are parallel to the first and second axes of the first and second engines, respectively, but which are behind the center of gravity of the aircraft. The engines are mounted and rotated about their respective pivot axes by a system including a shaft having a first end operatively attached to the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle like an aircraft or ship uses multiple propeller pairs to drive the vehicle. One propeller of each pair is located on one side of the vehicle and the other propeller of the same propeller pair on the other side of the vehicle. The propellers of each pair may revolve in opposite directions. A hydraulic transmission transfers the power from the power plant to the propellers, which are driven by hydraulic fluid motors of the transmission. The transmission forces each propeller of the same pair of propellers to revolve with equal rotary velocity relatively to the other propeller of the same pair. Propellers of different pairs have different pitches or sizes. Thereby the propellers use different powers at different speeds of the vehicle. Since the power plant drives a common transmission, the power supply to one of the pairs varies compared to the power supply to the other pair, when the vehicle travels at another speed.

Abstract: A jet aircraft is provided of the vertical or short take off and land (VSTOL) type which is a stable and controllable in all flight attitudes. The aircraft exhibits a high engine thrust/weight ratio which enables it to achieve shorter take-off, shorter landing distances and faster climbs as compared with prior art aircraft of the same general type. The aircraft includes two jet engines mounted side-by-side in its nose which assist in achieving smooth variation in cross-sectional area so that the area rule is not violated, and this enables efficient flight speeds in the sonic vicinity to be achieved. The exhaust of each engine of the aircraft is controlled by a thrust deflector and associated air foil array, the thrust deflector being deflected downwardly at an angle of substantially 75.degree.

Abstract: A jet propelled aircraft of the kind in which propulsion jets are directed over the top surface of the wing so as to cause additional lift as a result of the supercirculation induced on the wing and the deflection of the jets downwards, due to the Coanda effect, immediately downstream of the wing is provided with two longitudinal surfaces projecting from said top surface so as to form a single surface ejector system. The wing of the aircraft has a fixed front part which occupies a minor portion of the wing chord, and a movable rear portion which is articulated to the fixed portion about a substantially transverse axis and can be inclined downwards relative to the fixed part. The portion of the wing between the two longitudinal surfaces may be provided on its trailing edge with a movable attitude control surface of the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft includes an aircraft body portion 10, a wing portion 14 attached to the body portion by means of an intermediate portion 15 whose thickness diminishes outboard of the body portion to blend with the wing portion. The intermediate portion 15 comprises upper and lower surfaces diverging rearwardly from a leading region to a region of maximum divergence. The aft portion of the intermediate region is cut away to receive propulsion jet outlet 16 which is shaped to be within a rearward projection of the region of maximum divergence of the intermediate portion. The propulsion outlet jet 16 may be directed downwardly to generate a lift component.

Abstract: A deployable inlet for use with a center boost engine on a jet propelled aircraft having the capability of aerodynamically fairing the air inlet located in the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer at such times as the center boost engine is shut down and non-operative, thus minimizing drag. More particularly, an inlet construction for use with aircraft of the type commonly employing multiple main power plants and an auxiliary center boost engine of the type which is commonly used only: (i) during take-off; (ii) during air refueling operations; and/or (iii), under certain emergency operating conditions; and, wherein the air inlet for such center boost engine is located at the root leading edge of the aircraft's vertical stabilizer.

Abstract: A nacelle mounted by a pylon below and forwardly of a wing. The wing has a critical zone, which includes an area in the airstream flow about the wing where either of the following conditions occur:1. The local pressure coefficient in the airstream has an absolute magnitude greater than 0.05,2. The airstream flow about the airfoil is supersonic.The nacelle and pylon have a critical surface region which is an upper side surface portion of the nacelle and the contiguous pylon surface adjacent to a forwardly swept portion of the wing. The critical contour area of the nacelle surface is that portion of the critical surface region that is within the critical zone. The critical contour area of the nacelle and pylon are shaped to be in alignment with a plurality of airfoil streamlines that are immediately adjacent the critical contour area. Other surface portions of the nacelle are out of alignment with adjacent streamlines and correspond more closely to the engine structure contour.

Abstract: A nacelle mounted by a pylon above and forwardly of a wing. The wing has a critical zone, which includes an area in the airstream flow about the wing where either of the following conditions occur:1. The local pressure coefficient in the airstream has an absolute magnitude greater than 0.05,2. The airstream flow about the airfoil is supersonic.The nacelle and pylon have a critical surface region which is a lower side surface portion of the nacelle and the contiguous pylon surface adjacent to a forwardly swept portion of the wing. The critical contour area of the nacelle surface is that portion of the critical surface region that is within the critical zone. The critical contour area of the nacelle and pylon are shaped to be in alignment with a plurality of airfoil stream lines that are immediately adjacent the critical contour area. Other surface portions of the nacelle are out of alignment with adjacent stream lines and correspond more closely to the engine structure contour.

Abstract: A nacelle mounted directly to and above a wing so as to extend forwardly therefrom. The wing has a critical zone, which includes an area in the airstream flow about the wing where either of the following conditions occur:1. The local pressure coefficient in the airstream has an absolute magnitude greater than 0.05,2. The airstream flow about the airfoil is supersonic.The nacelle has a critical surface region which is a side surface portion of the nacelle adjacent to a forwardly swept portion of the wing. The critical contour area of the nacelle surface is that portion of the critical surface area that is within the critical zone. The critical contour region of the nacelle is shaped to be in alignment with a plurality of airfoil streamlines that are immediately adjacent the critical contour area. Other surface portions of the nacelle are out of alignment with adjacent streamlines and correspond more closely to the engine structure contour.

Abstract: An improved pressure balanced nonaxisymmetric high aspect ratio afterburner convergent nozzle of the type adapted to be mounted on a jet engine suspended from an airfoil's wing spar structure, and characterized by its simplicity of construction, ease and reliability of operation, and improved simplified sealing characteristics; yet, which permits substantial reduction of the included angle between the wing chord reference plane WCRP and the visual line-of-sight from the airfoil trailing edge into the jet engine nozzle while in its cruise position. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a simplified pressure balanced nonaxisymmetric high aspect ratio afterburner convergent nozzle construction which permits of simplified, highly effective sealing arrangements and wherein when the nozzle is shifted to a dry nozzle position--i.e., the cruise position--the trailing edge line-of-sight into the nozzle is maintained at a minimum angle, preferably on the order of from about 5.degree. to about 10.degree.

Abstract: A nacelle mounted directly to and below a wing so as to extend forwardly therefrom. The wing has a critical zone, which includes an area in the airstream flow about the wing where either of the following conditions occur:1. The local pressure coefficient in the airstream has an absolute magnitude greater than 0.05,2. The airstream flow about the airfoil is supersonic.The nacelle has a critical surface region which is a side surface portion of the nacelle adjacent to a forwardly swept portion of the wing. The critical contour area of the nacelle surface is that portion of the critical surface region that is within the critical zone. The critical contour area of the nacelle is shaped to be in alignment with a plurality of airfoil streamlines that are immediately adjacent the critical contour area. Other surface portions of the nacelle are out of alignment with adjacent streamlines and correspond more closely to the engine structure contour.

Abstract: An alignment device for adjusting the takeoff assist thrust vector of a rocket booster in a desired relationship to the center of gravity of an autonomous missile. The device provides for using "plumb bob type" hanging tool prior to installing the rocket booster on the missile.

Abstract: An aircraft drive system having two propellers, each of which is driven independently by a drive belt which is connected to a separate engine. The engines are mounted in cantilever fashion in a spaced relationship on a hollow sleeve. The sleeve is attached by a pair of spaced brackets to the frame of the aircraft. A shaft is rotatably telescopically mounted within the sleeve by bearings located on the ends of the sleeve. A pulley is fixedly mounted on one end of the shaft and is driven by one of the engines for rotating one of the propellers which is fixed on the other end of the shaft. Another pulley is rotatably mounted by bearings on the sleeve and is driven by a drive belt connected to the second engine. The second propeller is telescopically located about the sleeve adjacent the first propeller and is firmly connected to the second pulley which rotates said second propeller completely independent of the first propeller and in an opposite direction than the first propeller.

Abstract: A cruciform wing structure for a solar powered aircraft is disclosed. Solar cells 28 are mounted on horizontal wing surfaces 20, 22. Wing surfaces 24, 26 with spanwise axis perpendicular to surfaces 20, 22 maintain these surfaces normal to the sun's rays by allowing aircraft to be flown in a controlled pattern at a large bank angle.The solar airplane may be of conventional design with respect to fuselage, propeller and tail, or may be constructed around a core 70 and driven by propeller mechanisms 75, 76, 77, and 78 attached near the tips of the airfoils.

Abstract: A retractable/deployable nozzle fairing for use with a center boost engine on a jet propelled aircraft having the capability of aerodynamically fairing the center boost engine's exhaust nozzle and reducing the diameter of the empennage outlet when deployed so as to minimize the base drag characteristics of the empennage body structure when the center boost engine is shut down. More particularly, an exhaust nozzle retractable/deployable fairing for use with aircraft of the type commonly employing multiple main power plants and an auxiliary center boost engine of the type which is commonly used only: (i) during take-off; (ii) during air refueling operations, and/or (iii), under certain emergency operating conditions; and, wherein the retractable/deployable fairing member is formed of flexible sheet material that is fabricated into a truncated generally conical nozzle configuration--i.e.

Abstract: A wing of an aircraft has a mass, for example an engine, secured to the wing by a pylon such that an imaginary line between the center of gravity of the mass and the region of the wing to which the pylon is attached is at an angle to the vertical, the force and the moment applied to the wing by the mass and the pylon being applied to the wing through at least one attachment member. The force and the moment can be applied to the wing through first and second attachment members respectively.

Abstract: Modifications to a jet aircraft of the type having aft fuselage-mounted engine nacelles overlapping trailing edge portions of the aircraft's wings, wherein a channel area defined by the fuselage, wing, pylon and attached nacelle is shaped to prevent air flowing therethrough from forming a shock wave during flight operation in the transonic regime, resulting in significant drag reduction as compared to an unmodified jet aircraft of a similar type. Further modifications to the jet aircraft's wings provide additional lift while significantly reducing drag as compared to a similar, unmodified aircraft. The present invention is particularly adaptable for use with Gates Learjet type aircraft, especially Models 23, 24, 25 and other models having similar nacelle, pylon and inboard wing arrangements.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an airplane to permit it to achieve vertical and/or short take-offs and landings. The propulsion system is integrated into a wing/nacelle unit and includes a thrust vectoring system. A separate flow turbofan engine is mounted in each wing/nacelle unit. A system of three flaps is located at the rear of each wing/nacelle unit for deflecting the turbofan engine exhaust downward, rearward, or any angle in between. These three flaps are arranged to provide a main thrust nozzle in the horizontal flight position without any additional flaps between them. One flap is located at the wing/nacelle upper surface trailing edge. Two slots are provided at the leading edge of this flap. The upper forward most slot is provided as an exit nozzle for the engine turbine exhaust, which is shrouded from the fan exhaust. The second of these two slots removes a portion of the high energy fan exhaust from the fan discharge duct and ejects it over a flap upper surface.

Abstract: A VTOL airplane having a stub wing integrating a powerplant to either side of an airplane fuselage to rotatably relate the powerplant means to the airplane fuselage for uniform rotation, allow for flexible interconnecting design and lower the use of gravitational and aerodynamic moments in assistance of rotation of this powerplant/stub wing assembly.

Abstract: A foot-launched and foot-landed hang glider is powered by an internal combustion two-cycle engine drivingly connected through a reduction-drive unit to a large relatively slow-moving propeller. A reduction mount, so referred to because it couples the reduction-drive unit closely to the engine, allows the engine to rotate a large propeller relatively slowly, thus providing more thrust at near-stalling flight conditions. The hang glider, thus powered, also obviates the necessity of being launched from the edge of a precipice and permits flight which is not predicated on the fortuitous selection of favorable air currents.

Abstract: A pair of turbofan engines are cross connected such that during normal-mode operation horsepower can be shared by the respective cores, and when one engine core becomes inoperative the fan of that engine can be driven by the turbine of the operative engine to thereby maintain a substantial thrust output. In order to balance the respective thrust outputs, variable inlet guide vanes are controlled to decrease the fan mass flow in the operative engine and increase the fan mass flow in the inoperative engine. The variable inlet guide vanes are so constructed as to only partially span the fan duct so as to not appreciably affect the airflow to the core when the inlet guide vane angle setting is altered to allow the core to thereby retain a high level of supercharging during this operational period of maximum power demand.

Abstract: A main engine support structure having a rear portion hinge-mounted at two laterally spaced locations to a leading edge of a wing in a manner to permit limited up and down swing movement of the engine relative to the wing. A generally vertically aligned forward support link connects a forward inboard side portion of the engine support structure to the airplane fuselage, thus providing vertical support for the engine at its forward end. At the rear of the support structure there is a laterally extending link, connecting the support structure to the wing and resisting lateral loads exerted on the engine. This mounting system reliably mounts the engine to the wing, does not interfere with the wing's ability to flex upwardly and downwardly, and properly transmits the loads from the engine into the aircraft structure.

Abstract: An aircraft engine is mounted above and spaced apart from the upper side of a wing by means of a supplemental wing being above and ahead of the main wing. Particular parameters for this mounting arrangement are given so that the jet clears the upper wing surface but accelerates the flow there above. The omission of a pylon on the wing is another drag reducing feature.

Abstract: An aircraft has three propulsion engines, two of which each include one pivotable exhaust nozzle which are arranged one on each side of the aircraft, and a third engine including two pivotable exhaust nozzles, one of which is arranged on either side of the aircraft. The arrangements being such that upon failure of one of the two engines the efflux from the third engine is only directed through the nozzle situated on the side of the aircraft which the failed nozzle is arranged.

Abstract: An aircraft body has a pair of hydraulic fluid-operated motors mounted on it, a pair of stream-creating devices driven by the motors and symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the body. One or more hydraulic fluid-flow producing devices has at least a pair of separate fluid-handling chambers each connected to one of a pair of separate outlets, and including arrangements for fluid-tight separation of the chambers and outlets, so that fluid from each chamber passes through only one of the outlets. A pair of displacement units is associated with the fluid-handling chambers, respectively, and an equally acting actuator arrangement cooperates equally with both of the two displacement units for maintaining equal movements of the two displacement units so that fluid flows in the outlets at proportionate and equal flow rates. A pair of delivery passages connects each of the outlets with a different one of the motors, respectively.

Abstract: An airplane having a fuselage, a high wing projecting from the upper part of the fuselage to either side first at an upward angle and then slightly downwardly whereby said wing presents a gull wing frontal contour, fins to either side and forward of and at the bottom of the fuselage with ducted fans nested to the wing under the high point of the gull wing frontal contour to be unobstructed thereby.

Abstract: By employing in-line gas turbine power plants in the nose and tail of a low profile highly streamlined aircraft, twin engine reliability is obtained with only a single engine frontal area combined with the employment of strakes rather than pipes for the nose engine exhaust, excellent fuel economy is obtained. While a nose mounted turboprop serves as the main power supply, a tail mounted turbojet with only a small fraction of the turboprop horsepower provides a supplementary power source during take-off or optionally to enhance cruise performance. Should the turboprop fail in flight the turbojet is capable of taking over at a reduced cruising speed. A fuel system common to both engines offers additional safety features and an improved method for effecting proper trim with either or both engines operative.

Abstract: A jet engine disposed at and preferably in front of the tip end of an airplane wing with exhaust flow intercepting and rotating counter to tip vortex flow to reduce vortex induced drag, the angle of rotation of exhaust flow being cyclically variable to dissipate the vortex flow. The tip engine assists in powering the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft provided with airfoils of the non-rotating type that are configured and arranged to provide greater lift while at the same time offering stable flight at ultra-low airspeeds. The airfoils are arranged as a biplane and consist of a fixed wing and a movable wing which are designed so as to permit a much steeper takeoff and landing angle as well as offering more efficient flight at higher speeds with greater inherent safety.

Abstract: A vertical or short takeoff and landing aircraft (VSTOL) employing three high bypass turbotip fans disposed in the fuselage and faired into the upper surfaces of the wings, and driven by two gas generators to produce vertical lift and transition to cruise flight such that the tripod arrangement for the turbotip fans generates stable powered flight. In the foregoing aircraft the gas generator - turbotip fan is an integrated propulsion system having thrust vectoring devices and gas flow control valved ducts between the two gas generators and the three turbotip fans to provide all lift, control transition and cruise functions, and in which the gas flow system produces variations in bypass ratios for the various modes of operation.

Abstract: A midwing aircraft employs a unique configuration for mounting three high bypass turbofan engines. All three engines are mounted so that a portion thereof projects forwardly of the leading edge of the airfoil on which they are mounted and so that the chordal plane of the airfoil longitudinally bisects the engine. The exhaust from each of the engines is directed by two nozzles. Internal bifurcators split both the turbine exhaust and the fan exhaust from each of the engines evenly between the two nozzles. A pair of channels in each of the wing mounted engines intercepts a portion of the fan effluent and directs it rearwardly into boundary layer control supply plenums in the wing structure. Valve mechanisms for opening and closing the channels are mounted in the forward portions of the channels. Check valves are also provided in each of the channels to prevent backflow of fluid from the supply plenums into the channels.

Abstract: A motor-driven model airplane which is designed to have a pusher propeller to free the fuselage from aerodynamic influences of propeller slip stream and also to protect the fuselage from such damage as would be caused by collision in flight.

Abstract: An aircraft designed to afford passengers an unrestricted view for "sightseeing" or other purposes. Passenger accommodation extends to the foremost part of a fuselage and is enclosed by a cabin transparency extending to cover substantially the entire field of view of passengers from a fixed position. The pilot of the aircraft is accommodated above and behind the passengers, the aircraft's powerplant also being disposed behind the passenger accommodation.

Abstract: In an aircraft with a multi-engine configuration at the aft end of the fuselage the engines lie on top and on either side with their air intakes so positioned that downward and sideways noise shielding is provided by the fuselage and the wings, the wings having rearwardly extendible flaps to substantially close at take off and landing, gaps in the noise shield that would otherwise exist between the intakes and the unextended wing trailing edges. The engines exhaust into a noise shielding duct the bottom and side walls of which are provided respectively by a fixed-incidence portion of the tail plane and a pair of fins and rudders upstanding from the tailplane. Upward and downward thrust reversal passages are obtained by rocking back an aft end portion of each engine housing and simultaneously tilting a hingedly mounted forward section of said fixed incidence tail plane portion.