GB795048A - Improvements in vertical take-off and landing aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

795,048. Aircraft undercarriages, airbrakes, and control surfaces. SOC. NATIONALE D' ETUDE ET DE CONSTRUCTION DE MOTEURS D'AVIATION. Nov. 22, 1956 [Nov. 22, 1955], No. 35743/56. Class 4. A vertical take off and landing aircraft comprises, along the trailing edge of a wing, a plurality of flaps which are retractable flash into the wing and are pivotable about an axis intermediate their ends to protrude from both surfaces of the wing, at least some of the flaps being displaceable longitudinally rearwardly to form supports for the aircraft when on the ground. Fig. 5 shows an annular wing aircraft having eight flaps (five only shown) spaced at regular intervals round the wing trailing edge. All the flaps are pivotable, and flaps 2, 4, and the diametrically opposite two flaps (not shown) are extensible as shown into a landing position, while flaps 1, 3, 5 and a fourth flap (not shown) are not so extensible. Fig. 8 shows crosssections of an extensible flap 4 and a non- extensible flap 7 (the latter is diametrically opposite flap 3). Flap 7 is pivoted to the wing at 13, and is pivotable between the position shown and that in which its surfaces B, C fair into the outer and inner surfaces 24, 23 of the wing, under the control of a hydraulic jack 12 pivoted to a strut 22 of the wing at 15. Flap 4 is pivoted at 9 to the end of the piston rod 16 of a hydraulic jack, the cylinder 17 of which is secured to struts 21, 22 of the wing. A further hydraulic jack 10 extends between rod 16 and a pivot 11 on the flap and acts to pivot flap 4 as jack 12 pivots flap 7. The flap 4 and jack 10 can be extended rearwardly or retracted by jack 17 without altering the angular position of flap 4. All the flaps can be pivoted to the position shown to act as air brakes. Selected flaps can be pivoted to give an asymmetrical drag, thus steering the aircraft. Intermediate positions, as shown in chain dot lines for flap 4, are available, steering the aircraft in the same way as rudders or elevators, if appropriate flaps are actuated.