GB898360A - Disc-type aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

898,360. Aircraft. AVRO AIRCRAFT Ltd. May 10, 1955 [May 11, 1954], No. 13790/54. Class 4. In an aircraft comprising a generally lentiform structure as described in Specification 898,358, a group of gas turbine engines 37 is positioned between the aerofoil surfaces in a generally radial arrangement with their intakes directed towards the centre of the structure and their outlets directed towards its perimeter. Each engine 37 is attached to a segment 11 and is housed in a cylindrical shell 38 within an annular fuel tank 13 with the aid of mounting means 43; 40, 39. The air intakes of the engines register with openings in an annular plenum chamber between walls 14 and 21, to which air is admitted through ports 29 or through spring closed ports 27, Fig. 8 (not shown), during take-off when the ports 29 are closed to avoid admission of combustion products from the " gas cushion " on which the craft rises. It is stated that, because of this ground cushion effect, the aircraft rises vertically although it may have a weight greater than combined static thrust of all its engines; The gases from the engine outlets, are ejected from the periphery of the aircraft and their flow is controlled to control the aircraft similar to the manner described in Specification 898,359 and as described in Specification 898,362. In " take-off" position a selector handle 80 closes shutters 72 so that all gases are ejected downwardly through an annular nozzle 69, but during flight this handle is moved to allow gases to be ejected from upper and lower nozzles 68, 69, the annular shutters being then eccentrically disposed to close both nozzles at the front and to locate them open to a progressively increasing extent towards the rear. A control handle 79 causesdifferential movement of the shutters so that its movement to port reduces. the proportion of port flowing gases having a downward component and increases the proportion of starboard flowing gases havinga downward component. Rudder pedals 83 control shutters 82 for openings 81 to port and starboard. Specification 892,401 also is referred to.