GB2259286A - Amphibious flying craft - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle capable of operating on water, on land, and in the air has a body with a central vertical let engine and two or more further engines E, F which can be pivotted between a position giving horizontal thrust for forward flight or manoeuvring on water or land, and a position giving vertical thrust for hovering and VTOL. Retractable wings slidable through X, Y in the body are fully extended for take-off, climb, and landing, and are partially retracted for cruising flight. The vertical engine is not used in cruise flight. <IMAGE>

Description

THE "C" FLY Ever since Sir George Caley discovered the lift of a wing and the Wright brothers developed the power and control aircraft development has continued along those lines.

Present wing design splits airflow causing high beneath and low pressure over the top surface so creating lift according to runway speed. To control the craft extra surfaces and tail unit needs to be added to manually control steering, braking, climb and stabilisation of the craft.

This limits commercial design to dry land with long runways, high flying skills all at enormous expense and risk.

The "C" FLY by way of example, consists of a vertical hollow cylinder into which a vertical jet engine is mounted terminated above by a domed air inlet. Two jet engines are fixed to pivot at the opposite sides of the outer cylinder casing giving horizontal and directional thrust.

The airframe or wing is square or round, stepped with a central well to house the "power cylinder" as described. The craft stands on a three point wheeled undercarriage.

The two thrust engines start moving the "C" FLY, then the vertical jet blows under the wing creating an assisted take-off for "hover", which triggers the wing spread. The fuel ladened wings tilt the craft into a climb profile until the required height is reached.

Once in horizontal cruising flight the lift engine and most of the wing span is redundant, closed down, wings retracted so reducing flight costs. Landing proceedure relies on steering the engines which pivot and slow the craft to the hovering point, with the wings extended speeds are slower and very much safer as it lands like a raft.

One of the many advantages lies in the naval or military field where the decks can be used like a surface landing craft likewise minesweeping, rescue and many luxury ventures.

c FLY a specific embodyment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG 1 Shows in perspective a square hollow 3 layer body stepped to accommodate a central cylinder V and to which the HOVER engine is attached. Engines E & F are attached to dome top H. The 2 sliding wings move out through slots at X & Y.

N & M are rams which steers by pivotting the thrust of each engine.

FIG 2 Frontal view of the stepped profile with the wings in closed position. The undercarriage R S T for ground landingçor water stabilisers/hydrofoil.

FIG 3 & 4 Show the TAKE-OFF and HOVER-FLIGHT orientation.

Claims (1)

1. (1) A square or round shaped hollow vessel housing a central vertical jet engine and 2 or more horizontal thrust engines causing it to cruise on water and fly off any surface by extending its slideable wings.

   (2) A flying or sailing vessel as in (1) which is directionally controlled by its pivotting engines and lifted or lowered by its vertical or 'hover' engine.

   (3) A craft as described which offers a passenger or naval deck to suit mine sweeping, rescue, missile launching-war and peacetime pursuits.

   (4) An amphibious wing which can be computer controlled using fuel balance by extending or retracting the sliding wings.

   (5) A combined air and water craft as described with reference to FIGs 1-4 in the accompanying drawings.