GB468063A - Improvements relating to aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

468,063. Aeroplane adapted to act as a helicopter; airscrews. MYERS, G. F. Nov. 23, 1935, No. 32534. [Classes 4 and 114] An aeroplane adapted to act as a helicopter is provided with retractable landing wheels 8, Fig. 1, and a tail-wheel or other tail-supporting means 7 arranged wholly behind the fuselage and control surfaces, the arrangement being such that an aeroplane landing can be effected on wheels 8 or a helicopter landing on wheel 7. Take-off is effected from the position shown in Fig. 1 ; for this purpose the pitch of airscrew 13 is adjusted to give negative thrust whilst running up and is suddenly adjusted to a positive value to effect a jumping take-off. The tail-supporting means are faired in flight by a cap 15 and may be associated with springs or damping devices. Retraction of wheels 8 and cover 15, also actuation of undercarriage fairing doors 22 is by cable means operated by the pilot. Additional emergency earth engaging means may be fitted at the trailing edge of the rudder and braced to the rudder spar. Torque reaction is counteracted bv a sliding weight.26, Fig. 4, or is eliminated bv the use of two oppositely rotating airscrews. The centre of gravity is so disposed that the machine tends to tilt torwardly onto wheels 8 when wheel 7 makes contact with the ground. The variable pitch airscrew comprises blades 42, Fig. 6, in each of which is arranged a radially movable weight 43 connected by a cord 44 to a drum 45 driven by an electric motor 47. The weights 43 are allowed to move to the blade tips during running-up prior to take-off and are retracted when desired by actuation of motor 47.