Abstract: A fordable ascending/descending wing stand for a flying apparatus is disclosed. The wind stand includes a base supported on a car by a number of supporting rods. A frame is mounted on the base, provided with four propellers capable of generating a required upward and forward force to the flying apparatus. The angle of the propellers are controllable by a number of hydraulic actuators mounted on the frame. A tail helm is arranged on the frame for controlling the frying orientation of the car during flying. The base is further provided with a leftward/rightward mass center adjusting mechanism and a forward/rearward mass center adjusting mechanism for adjusting the mass center of the car during flying.

Abstract: An aircraft having a reduced-load wing structure is provided with a controllable canard stabilizer (5G, 5D) at the front end of the aircraft and a controller that controls the canard stabilizer. The controller generates a turn command corresponding to an increase in the lift of the canard stabilizer when, simultaneously, the turn command applied by the pilot to the elevational control surfaces (6G, 6D) exceeds a threshold and the measurement of the vertical acceleration of the aircraft exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A hybrid aircraft is taught having VTOL, R-VTOL and S-STOL capabilities. The aircraft has a lifting body hull and four wing sections arranged in tandem which are pivotally moveable about their neutral axis. Each wing section has mounted thereon a pivotal propeller-rotor assembly for providing thrust substantially in a range between horizontal and vertical. The wings and propellers are integrated to the hull by an outrigger designed to be very stiff and to distribute forces from the wings and propellers to the hull. The hull is shaped to provide aerodynamic lift in an airstream and to facilitate construction by minimizing the number of panels of differing curvature required. The hull is formed of a pressure tensioned frame covered with semi-rigid panels, a lower cladding frame and bow and stem cladding nose cones. The semi-rigid panels covering the frame are formed of gas-tight and abrasion resistant laminate material and are connected to the frame by means of an interface rib and latch system.

Abstract: A vertically launchable and recoverable winged aircraft includes an airframe, a least one proprotor connected to the airframe through a rotatable drive shaft, and collective and cyclic pitch control systems. The airframe includes a wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge which define a forward direction of flight in an airplane mode. The proprotors each have an axis of rotation generally parallel to the forward direction of flight in airplane mode, and include at least two proprotor blades. The cyclic pitch control system is operably connected to each blade to control the pitch of each blade, so that the aircraft is capable of controlled helicopter mode flight when the wing leading edge is pointed in a generally upward direction.

Abstract: A VTOL/STOL free wing aircraft includes a free wing having wings on opposite sides of a fuselage connected to one another respectively for free rotation about a spanwise access. Improved control upon landing of the aircraft is achieved by utilizing a variable pitch propulsion system, enabling the pitch of the propeller to be varied corresponding to the speed of the aircraft and angle of approach upon descent.

Abstract: The vehicle includes a fuselage; a plurality of lifting surfaces attached to the fuselage having control devices attached thereto; and, an articulated propulsion system attached to the fuselage. The propulsion system includes a duct assembly pivotally connected to the fuselage. The duct assembly includes a duct and a propeller assembly mounted within the duct. A motor assembly is connected to the propeller assembly. The duct assembly may be positioned in a substantially vertical position to provide sufficient direct vertical thrust for vertical take-off and landing and may be directed in other positions to provide a varying spectrum of take-off and landing configurations, as well as a substantially horizontal position for high speed horizontal flight. Use of the control surface in the ducted propulsion assembly provides VTOL capability in a very small environment. The environment is not required to be prepared in any special manner.

Abstract: A tilt wing VTOL aircraft has a fuselage with sides and an upper surface, an upper wing having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a chord, a lower surface and an upper surface. The wing is pivotally mounted on the fuselage for rotation from a cruise flight position in which the upper surface of the wing is flush with the upper surface of the fuselage to a hover position in which the wing is perpendicular to the upper surface of the fuselage. Aircraft engines are mounted on the wing. The aircraft has a pair of flaps at the trailing edge of the wing, each located between the fuselage and an engine and each spaced the same distance from the fuselage and each of the engines. The flaps are mounted for selective movement from colinearity with the chord of the wing to a first angle of about +30.degree. with the chord and about 30.degree. with the upper surface of the wing and to a second angle of about -30.degree. with the chord and about 30.degree. with the lower surface of the wing.

Abstract: A tiltwing aircraft, capable of in-flight conversion between a hover and forward cruise mode, employs a counter-rotating proprotor arrangement which permits a significantly increased cruise efficiency without sacrificing either the size of the conversion envelope or the wing efficiency. A benefit in hover is also provided because of the lower effective disk loading for the counter-rotating proprotor, as opposed to a single rotation proprotor of the same diameter. At least one proprotor is provided on each wing section, preferably mounted on the wingtip, with each proprotor having two counter-rotating blade rows. Each blade row has a plurality of blades which are relatively stiff-in-plane and are mounted such that cyclic pitch adjustments may be made for hover control during flight.

Abstract: A boundary layer control device including a rotating cylinder mounted on a shaft disposed along the trailing edge of the wing of an aircraft and a flap structure secured to the shaft on which the rotating cylinder is mounted. In the preferred embodiment, the flap structure is coupled to the shaft by brackets, each of which having one end pivoted about the shaft and an opposite end to which the flap is pivotally supported. This arrangement facilitates rotation of the flap structure between a first "cruise" position in which the flap structure is disposed substantially horizontally at the trailing edge of the wing, and a second "VTOL" position in which the flap is disposed either above or below the wing in a "stowed" or aerodynamically hidden position. Various other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A latch pin and locking system for use in connection with an aircraft having folding wings or wing tips. The system includes a plurality of individual latch pin units, each of which has a pin that is hydraulically driven in extension and retraction. When extended, the pins cooperatively lock wing tip hinge structure which prevents wing tip folding movement. Each latch pin unit has a locking body that prevents pin retraction of its respective pin after extension thereof for wing tip locking. The locking bodies of all of the latch pin units are drivingly interlinked, so that all lock and/or unlock as a single network. The network is driven by a single power drive unit. In the event any one locking body in the network fails, the network is broken, and thereby provides an indication that maintenance is required.

Abstract: A tilt wing VTOL aircraft has an upper wing with a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inboard area adjacent the fuselage, spaced opposite end tip areas and an upper surface. The wing is pivotally mounted on the fuselage for rotation from a cruise position in which the upper surface of the wing is flush with the upper surface of the fuselage to a hover position in which the wing is perpendicular to the upper surface of the fuselage. The wing has a forward portion in the leading edge of the inboard area affixed to the fuselage and cut out of the wing and an aft portion in the trailing edge of the inboard area affixed to the fuselage and cut out of the wing.

Abstract: A controllable lifting rotary wing for an aircraft wherein each rotor blade is of torsionally flexible construction and control may be accomplished by twisting the rotor blades. The root end of each blade is mounted to a central hub by means which allow both beamwise flapping and blade twist. The blade root mounting angle may be either variable or fixed. The blade twists uniformly from this root angle to a variable tip angle. Twist of the rotor blades is accomplished through the mechanism of shear flows. Blade twist angle may be automatically established by a balance of dynamic forces on the blade which cause twist angle to increase as root mounting angle is increased. Alternatively, blade twist angle may be manually controlled also. A unique feature of the torsionally flexible blade is that it is hollow throughout its entire span so it is well suited for ducting gases through the interior of the blade to tip-mounted jet propulsion units if desired.

Abstract: The invention concerns an aircraft with engine pods located outboard on the wings and tiltable about a transverse axis. A fixed wing centerpiece is provided which terminates at the outside in each spanwise direction in a separation location. A through tubular spar is rotatably supported in the wing centerpiece. This tubular spar serves as a support for the outer wings which continue beyond the separation locations and which, together with the engine pods located there, form a unit which can be jointly swivelled or tilted.

Abstract: A drive system for a tiltrotor aircraft that provides for the operation of both proprotors by either engine or by both engines. The drive system provides an interconnecting drive shaft that extends between and connects the engines in such a manner that power is transferred from one engine to the opposite proprotor in the case of an engine failure. Also, the arrangement provides for the operation of a redundant essential systems for the aircraft should an electrical or hydraulic system fail to operate properly.

Abstract: This helicopter invention uniquely has no anti-torque tail rotor. The tail propeller is used only for forward thrust during the airplane mode of flight and during the transition from vertical helicopter flight to forward airplane mode of flight, when the helicopter rotor may be feathered in a no-lift attitude.The anti-torque balancing forces during the hovering mode are developed by the differentially controlled aileron forces when the wings are aligned vertically with the vertically downward airflow from the helicopter rotor.There is also a vertically moveable horizontal airfoil on the tail cone, or tail boom, with controllable means which can provide anti-torque reaction forces during the helicopter hovering mode from the lifting rotor down flow air.An angular moveable tail fin assembly and rudder are provided to improve transition from VTOL hovering flight to horizontal airplane flight.

Abstract: An aircraft has a pair of wing portions with propellers of a propeller pair which are driven and synchronized by a fluid transmission between the power plant and the propellers. A fluid line structure keeps most components of the craft together and consists preferredly of three pipes which are also utilized to carry the driving fluid to and from the motors, to hold the motors and to hold the wings. The take over of a plurality of functions by the interior pipe structure reduces weight and secures safe and economic operation of the craft.The pipe structure can be pivoted in respective bearings to effect the pivotal movement of the propellers and wing portions for either vertical take off and landing or horizontal flight. The pipe structure is built by pipes without bends in order to make the cleaning of the interiors of the pipes from dirt and remainders of weldings possible. Ribs and holding portions are provided on the structure for assembly and/or disassembly of the wing portions to the pipe structure.

Abstract: The invention provides an aircraft with propellers with vertical and horizontal axes in combination with pivotable wing portions. At vertical take off and landing the propellers with vertical axes bear the craft while the wing portions are set with their chord parallel to the airstreams through the lifting propellers. When the aircraft flies forward with enough speed, driven by the propeller(s) with the horizontal axis (axes), the lift propellers are set to rest parallel to the forward flight direction of the craft while the wing portions then pivot under the airflow over them into a horizontal position with their chords, at which they are prevented from further pivoting by stoppers in order that the wing portions then carry the craft at the forward flight.

Abstract: An aircraft has a pair of wing portions with propellers of a propeller pair which are driven and synchronized by a fluid transmission between the power plant and the propellers. A fluid line structure keeps most components of the craft together and consists preferredly of three pipes which are also utilized to carry the driving fluid to and from the motors, to hold the motors and to hold the wings. The take over of a plurality of functions by the interior pipe structure reduces weight and secures safe and economic operation of the craft.The pipe structure can be pivoted in respective bearings to effect the pivotal movement of the propellers and wing portions for either vertical take off and landing or horizontal flight. The pipe structure is built by pipes without bends in order to make the cleaning of the interiors of the pipes from dirt and remainders of weldings possible. Ribs and holding portions are provided on the structure for assembly and/or disassembly of the wing portions to the pipe structure.

Abstract: A rotor having airfoil section shaped blades is set into a fluid stream. Over a connection or transmission means a propeller is connected to the rotor. The fluid stream whereinto the rotor is set gives airflow energy to the rotor and revolves the rotor. The propeller is driven by the rotor over the connection or transmission means. Since the propeller is revolved by the rotor in the fluid stream, the propeller provides a thrust. The thrust may be used to lift a weight or to drive a member. A suitable application of the arrangement is, for example, to transform a multibladed helicopter into a gliding craft which descends under a gliding angle towards the surface of the earth when the helicopter has a complete engine failure. Auto-rotation accidents can thereby be prevented. The device is also applicable to drive a vehicle or to lift a weight. Variable means can be applied to obtain variable thrusts in flying craft to improve their efficiencies or change from one flight system to another flight system.

Abstract: An aircraft has a pair of tiltable wings for vertical and horizontal flight with propeller-pairs which are driven and synchronized by a fluid transmission between the power plant and the propellers. The interior structure which keeps most of the components of the craft together consists of at least three pipes which are also utilized to carry the driving fluid to and from the motors, to hold the motors and to hold the wings. The pipe structure can be pivoted in respective bearing means of the body of the aircraft to effect the pivotion of the propellers and wings for either vertical take off and landing or for horizontal flight. The take over of a plurality of functions by the interior pipe structure reduces weight and assures safe and economic operation of the craft.

Abstract: A jet aircraft is equipped with powered helicopter type rotor blades and control mechanisms whereby it can take off and land vertically, yet in horizontal flight can operate at speeds and altitudes typical of jet aircraft. The rotor blades are foldably retractable to a compact locked, trailing position for horizontal travel and are readily unfoldable by a manually operated control mechanism within the aircraft. While the rotors are rotating, the blade pitch can be selectively controlled and, on power failure, will be automatically controlled to provide for same direction autogyro rotation. In one form, the wings and stabilizers are tiltable between substantially horizontal positions for normal horizontal flight and substantially vertical positions for vertical flight. The craft is ground supported by flexible legs.

Abstract: A convertible airplane having an outboard engine supported at each side of the airplane fuselage on a spar that is angularly adjusted through 90.degree. from a horizontal to a vertical position for operating propellers both for a helicopter and for an airplane. A wing section is provided between the fuselage and each engine which is freely pivotable on each spar and which has thrust bearings between the ends and the adjacent portions of the fuselage and engine cowling. This permits the wing to swing on the spar to assume a direction of attack so that the air will pass smoothly over the wing sections without any eddy currents at the rear edge and in the area therebeyond which detracts from the airplane lift. With this arrangement the engines may be swung from a horizontal to a vertical position to function as a helicopter for raising the airplane vertically during which time the wing sections will assume a vertical position.

Abstract: The craft is for hovering flight, vertical takeoff and landing, and horizontal forward flight. It has a tail-sitting fuselage and a ducted fan mounted to the fuselage aft to provide propulsion in both (a) hovering and vertical flight and (b) horizontal forward flight. At each side is a floating wing, supported from the fuselage for passive rotation (or an actuator-controlled optimized emulation of such rotation) about a spanwise axis, to give lift in forward flight. The fuselage attitude varies between vertical in hovering and vertical flight, and generally horizontal in forward flight. Preferably the fuselage is not articulated; there is just one fan, the sole source of propulsion, rotating about only an axis parallel to the fuselage; and thrust-vectoring control vanes operate aft of the fan.