WO2011002309A1 - Flying, gliding and/or airdrop craft - Google Patents

Flying, gliding and/or airdrop craft Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011002309A1
WO2011002309A1 PCT/NZ2010/000124 NZ2010000124W WO2011002309A1 WO 2011002309 A1 WO2011002309 A1 WO 2011002309A1 NZ 2010000124 W NZ2010000124 W NZ 2010000124W WO 2011002309 A1 WO2011002309 A1 WO 2011002309A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
craft
condition
wing
stowed
undeployed
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ2010/000124
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert Harris
Original Assignee
Blue Sky Ventures
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Blue Sky Ventures filed Critical Blue Sky Ventures
Publication of WO2011002309A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011002309A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
    • B64C1/00—Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like
    • B64C1/0009—Aerodynamic aspects
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D17/00—Parachutes
    • B64D17/80—Parachutes in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
    • B64C39/00—Aircraft not otherwise provided for
    • B64C39/02—Aircraft not otherwise provided for characterised by special use
    • B64C39/026—Aircraft not otherwise provided for characterised by special use for use as personal propulsion unit
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
    • B64C5/00—Stabilising surfaces
    • B64C5/02—Tailplanes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D5/00—Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U10/00—Type of UAV
    • B64U10/25—Fixed-wing aircraft
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U30/00—Means for producing lift; Empennages; Arrangements thereof
    • B64U30/10—Wings
    • B64U30/12—Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U50/00—Propulsion; Power supply
    • B64U50/10—Propulsion
    • B64U50/12—Propulsion using turbine engines, e.g. turbojets or turbofans
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U70/00—Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
    • B64U70/20—Launching, take-off or landing arrangements for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
    • B64C39/00—Aircraft not otherwise provided for
    • B64C39/10—All-wing aircraft
    • B64C2039/105—All-wing aircraft of blended wing body type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U2201/00—UAVs characterised by their flight controls
    • B64U2201/20—Remote controls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U30/00—Means for producing lift; Empennages; Arrangements thereof
    • B64U30/40—Empennages, e.g. V-tails
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U70/00—Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
    • B64U70/80—Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets
    • B64U70/87—Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets using inflatable cushions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to powered flying, gliding and/or airdrop craft.
  • the present invention relates to an air drop craft able to glide and be controlled by an operator or remotely (irrespectively of whether occupied or not), or both or all.
  • the invention also, or instead, consists in an air craft with an undercarriage or airbag or other and able to land using that undercarriage, aiibag or other whether with a parachute or parasol assist, or not, or both.
  • the invention also consists in any of the variants herein described
  • the invention is a blended wing-body craft in its in flight mode (preferably without carnard stabilizer (s)).
  • the craft is able to carry an enclosed prone operator or passenger able to be released by carapace or canopy jettisoning
  • the craft preflight and/or airdrop can have a more compact stowed condition for the wings and/or the empennage.
  • condition is not deleterious to airdrop capability of the craft from a mother aircraft (fixed or rotary winged), and to reconfiguration to in flight mode condition.
  • the craft can assume the in flight mode condition with the airflow assistance.
  • the present invention is an advance on earlier augmentation of freefall skydivers to provide an improved glide slope (eg, beyond webbed flight suits and beyond the carbon fibre wing of Austrian Felix Baumgartner).
  • the invention is a blended wing-body craft to carry a prone operator or passenger, head to the fore or advance direction, and able to deplo) post drop from a drop condition into an in flight condition to provide a better than 4 1 glide ratio
  • the craft at drop has rearwardly folded wings from a carapaced or canopied body on and in which the operator or passenger lies
  • the wings at drop are with their leading edge downwards
  • the empennage is without a distinct vertical stabilizer in flight mode
  • the empennage is of paired deployable anhedral or polyhedral forms
  • the invention is a carapaced blended wing-body gliding, flying or airdrop aircraft having
  • the invention is a personal (powered) flying or (powered or unpowered) gliding craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the ciaft having
  • the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition”) and at least one deplo) ed condition ("deployed condition”)
  • each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically and/or upwardly to the aft of the body,
  • each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
  • each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
  • said craft is an airdrop craft optionally with or without an undercarriage and/or a propulsive system.
  • said airdrop craft is a blended wing-body type craft when in its flight mode which is said deployed condition
  • control can be by means of control surfaces of the deployed wings themselves and/or some limited rotational control of the wings themselves.
  • control in part can be the control of surfaces of the empennage and/or any limited movement of any one of the pair.
  • each of a gull wing form such that there is proximally a dihedral region followed by a more distal anhedral region when in the flight mode.
  • said empennage has each of those regions that are in flight mode anhedral directed substantially upwardly
  • the nature of the wings and/or the stabilizers of the empennage is such that air rush or air flow post drop moves the same from their stowed or at airdrop condition towards and preferably to their in flight mode condition
  • delays can be built into the deployment so as to best to sequence the deployment such delays can be resisted of the assistance provided by airflow or otherwise.
  • the wings in their deployed condition have some rearward sweep but they need not.
  • the wings when deployed are low wings
  • At least most of the structure of the airdrop craft is of carbon fibre composite material.
  • the invention is an airdrop craft having
  • each stabilizer with at least one control surface (controllable by the operator or otherwise) each supported from and/or to the aft of the body, and
  • a detachable or jettisonable carapace or canopy to co-act with the body to create an at least substantially enclosed fuselage-like environment (eg for the operator, or passenger or other content)
  • the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition (“deployed condition”):
  • each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically (preferably upwardly) to the aft of the body;
  • each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
  • each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polj hedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto
  • the invention is a blended body aircraft able to be airdropped, the craft having
  • a carapaced or canopied body to act as a lifting body
  • each wing with at least one controllable control surface, one wing supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
  • each stabilizer with at least one controllable control surface, each stabilizer supported from and/or to the aft of the body;
  • the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition (“deployed condition”),
  • each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially upwardly to the aft of the body;
  • each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and blends into the carapaced or canopied body, and each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body
  • the invention is a personal flying craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
  • a carapaced or canopied body to act as a lifting body, an operator being able to lie prone with head in the advance or fore direction, on the body and under the carapace or canopy,
  • each wing with at least one controllable control surface, one wing supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
  • each stabilizer with at least one controllable control surface, each stabilizer supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
  • the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition (“deployed condition”)
  • each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically (preferably upwardly) to the aft of the body,
  • each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
  • each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
  • the invention is a stable air drop aircraft (powered or unpowered) having
  • the invention is an airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
  • the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition (“deployed condition”):
  • the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
  • each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to die fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of the body,
  • the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
  • each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
  • each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
  • the invention is an airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
  • the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition (“deployed condition").
  • the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
  • each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of the bod) ,
  • the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
  • each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and ⁇
  • each iear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferabl j anhedially or pol ⁇ hedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/oi relative thereto
  • the invention is an airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
  • a pan of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
  • the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition (“deployed condition").
  • the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
  • each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of the body;
  • the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
  • each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
  • each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
  • the invention is an airdrop craft of a blended wing-body type to be stabilized by at least one aft stabilizer;
  • each wing at air drop will be rearwardly stowed, leading edge downwards;
  • the invention is an airdrop craft having a mirrored pair of aft stabilizers, each rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to, yet offset from, the craft's longitudinal axis, between an airdrop condition ("undeplo ⁇ ed”) and an in flight mode condition (“deployed”) wherein, in die deployed condition, each stabilizer is at least in part anhedral.
  • each stabilizer is at least in part upwardly extending.
  • each stabilizer is polyhedral.
  • each stabilizer when deployed, is proximally dihedral and distally anhedral or is (more preferably) wholly anhedral
  • air flow post drop urges the each stabilizer from undeployed condition (optionally against a resistive control of deployment)
  • the invention consists in a drop vehicle to carry at least one person (preferably one person) and able to deploy post drop from an undeployed drop condition to a deployed gliding condition
  • neither the wings nor empennage is in an in flight mode thereby to ensure fall away from a launch vehicle.
  • said drop vehicle when fully deployed is in the form of a blended lifting body.
  • said blended lifting body has a jettisonable carapace or canopy
  • blended lifting body as an operable bottom hatch and/or can have a dischargeable load that conforms in part to part of the bottom of the craft
  • the drop vehicle is adapted to carry a single operator
  • said single operator is earned in a prone and head first direction within the vehicle
  • the rear stabilizers are a pair of rear stabilizers, each in the drop condition substantially upwardly directed, yet each of which, when deployed, is outwardl) of the longitudinal axis of the body (and preferably bodi outwardly and angled downwardly eg anhedral or polyhedral to provide a gull-wing type geometry which is dihedral proximally and anhedial distally).
  • each stabilizers rotates about an axis or rotatable boom which is substantially parallel to, but offset from, the longitudinal axis of the craft.
  • the craft is adapted for "snagging".
  • the invention is an air drop craft in the form of a blended wing/body craft when in powered flight or in unpowered flight (eg, gliding) mode, or both modes; wherein one or more of the following applies:
  • the craft has an air drop mode to lessen likelihood post drop of recontacting the launch vehicle as a consequence of turbulence
  • the craft has a stowage mode of reduce area when viewed in plan silhouette, the craft has a carapace that in conjunction with the blended body, in flight provides lift,
  • the craft is adapted to air drop away nose first
  • the craft (optionally) has a cargo/munition drop capability via a bottom hatch, the craft (optionally) has provision for occupant departure without departure from is retained carapace in flight mode,
  • the craft (optionally) has removable jet power provision,
  • the craft has hub or rotatable boom mounted stabilizeis, the craft has rearwardly folded wings in the stowed mode and/or air drop mode, the craft has upwardly directed stabilizers in stowed and/or air drop mode, the craft is for a prone occupant,
  • the craft has control surfaces on its wings and stabilizers,
  • the craft has avionics allowing any modes of operation elsewhere discussed.
  • the aircraft is to be available in glider and powered versions
  • the aircraft can use "off the shelf control technologies, but preferably incorporates a software based control system to manage the correct deployment and control of the flying wings.
  • Figures 1 to 36 show a craft in accordance with the present invention (optionally having an undercarriage and optionally having two drive engines) between, as in Figure 1 , a condition, having an upraised carapace or canopy to allow the positioning of an operator in a prone head first condition within the blended body of the craft, and showing the wings rearwardly folded (leading edge downwardly) and the tail stabilizers in an upward condition yet transiting through the figures to closed carapace or canopy conditions ready for drop or take off and showing the first of the wings moving to their deployed outwardly extending and blended condition with respect to the body prior to any substantial movement of the rear stabilizers to their deployed condition,
  • Figures 37 to 38 show how, post air drop or after takeoff and undercarriage retraction, the controllable flying craft or controllable air drop craft (eg, acts as a glider if the engines are not present or not powered), is able to be controlled reliant upon control suifaces of the outwardly extending wings of the blended body craft and the outwardly yet slightly downwardly extending tail stabilizers, Figures 38 onwards showing the rearward raising of the carapace or canopy for jettisoning, thereby to allow the prone operator shown to exit the craft, the optional parachute for the craft and the optional parachute for the jettisoned carapace or canopy not being shown and it being understood that the operator if leaving the craft mid air would himself or herself have a parachute, Figure 47 showing the operator finally being clear of the aircraft and Figure 48 showing the aircraft unmanned and without its carapace or canopy,
  • Figure 49 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment in plan and in its flight mode
  • Figure 50 is a side elevation of the craft of Figure 49 with the advance direction to the left,
  • Figure 51 is a frontal view of the craft of Figures 49 and 50 showing its purely anhedral stabilizers at the rear,
  • Figure 52 is a similar view to that of Figure 49 but in a stowed and/or air drop mode
  • Figure 53 is a view of the craft as shown in Figure 52 with the carapace raised and being viewed from the front,
  • Figure 54 shows the craft of Figures 49 to 53 after j ettisoning of the carapace, loss of any occupant, and having its aft hatch opened ready for parachute deplo ⁇ ment,
  • Figure 55 is a similai view to that of Figure 54 but from above and fiom the rear, there being no parachute being shown in the aft hatch,
  • Figure 56 shows the craft as in the configuration of Figures 54 and 55 being supported by a deployed parachute, and
  • Figure 57 is a similar view to that of Figure 56 but showing the craft supported from a deployed parachute from the fore direction
  • the apparatus is an airdrop vehicle (preferably able to be used in con j unction with one or more parachute or parasol system or otherwise).
  • a body is defined that is to blend to the wings when in the flight mode.
  • an empennage for flight stability is provided that, in flight mode, differs in configuration from that at the point of air drop
  • a body 1 optionally with an undercarriage 2 and/or (not shown) an air bag landing support.
  • the body is preferably largely of carbon fibre composite material but preferably has a viewing region at its fore. This can be both an upwardly and downwardly facing transparent region 3.
  • a carapace or canopy 4 preferably mounted at 4A for articulation from its iear above the body 1 but in such a way as to pull that articulation down more towards the body for a snug latched fit when in the flight mode. It (optionally) is to be jettisonable by having the articulating mount rise above the deployed empennage and the body 1.
  • the empennage is substantially as shown in Figure 1 with the anhedral stabilizers 5 in substantially a vertical condition that provides little lift or downward force.
  • the wings 6, at air drop, are deployed rearwardly preferably with their leading edge 7 facing downwards eg, much in the way utilised in part with the Grumman wings in the Hellcat aircraft Unlike such Grumman wings, here there is a carapaced body in flight having a lifting body characteristic to co-act in a blended wing-body form with the wings 6 when deployed in flight.
  • FIG. 1 Shown in Figure 1 is a boom or hub 8 from which each of the stabilizers 5 extends and which they can rotate to the inflight mode shown in for example Figure 37 about a rotational axis substantially parallel to the craft's fore and aft axis but, in each case, displaced on either side thereof.
  • control surfaces of the wings are shown as including 9 in Figure 49. Likewise the control surfaces of the stabilizers 5 include surfaces 10.
  • the craft of the piesent invention can be operated in any one or more of a variety of modes. These range from air drop modes (eg, from a fixed or iotary winged launch vehicle or even a blimp) irrespectively of whether to land conventionally on an undeicarriage or a skid, whether to land on an air bag, whether to land by parachute, whether to be abandoned in flight by an occupant, whether itself when abandoned to be allowed to fall with or without parachute support(s), whether to be in flight retrieved (eg "snagged"), whethci to be capable of powered flight, whether to be remotely controlled totally or in part, and whether to be occupied at all.
  • air drop modes eg, from a fixed or iotary winged launch vehicle or even a blimp
  • air bag e.g, from a fixed or iotary winged launch vehicle or even a blimp
  • parachute whether to be abandoned in flight by an occupant, whether itself when abandoned to be allowed to
  • a (wireless) control system can be taken from the craft by the pilot when he parachutes down— or else the craft can be remote controlled from off the craft,
  • the craft can be a cargo carrier, to be on board or off board (ie, remotely) controlled,
  • the person in the craft need not be the pilot; the craft may be controlled from elsewhere or have an autopilot;
  • landing can be cushioned with airbags— and this allows a non-pilot or cargo to be landed with the craft;
  • the modes also include powered take off modes or towed takeoff modes with any subsequent type of operation desired.
  • At least one above body jet propulsion unit 11 is an optional feature.
  • Such small jet units include those evolved for j et belts and subsequendy further developed for cruise missile use. Any suitable mounting, fuel feed and engine control provision can be employed.
  • Any suitable mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic systems can be employed for resisting/assisting mode changes (eg, post air drop or post snagging), control of flight surfaces and/or angels of attack, the sequencing of wing and empennage deployment, undercarriage control, parachute control, etc.
  • Microprocessors can be involved to assist flight control and/or navigation
  • An embodiment of the invention with optional and removable jet power units 11 showing in Figures 49 through 57 in the flight mode. As shown it operates to carry, if desired, an operator or a passenger, yet upon j ettisoning of the operator or occupant (or indeed a cargo) which follows carapace jettisoning or (in the case of a cargo being deployed or ordinance being deployed eg via an optional bottom hatch) allows a rear hatch 12 to open (as in part shown in Figure 52) thereby to allow a paiachute 13 to deploy for retrieval purposes That letrieval potpose can be upon landing of the craft or by snagging of the craft in some way whilst airborne In other forms of the present invention the recover ⁇ ' may or may not include a parachute ie, snagging can be accomplished by an airborne craft without deployment of a parachute.

Abstract

A carapaced blended wing-body gliding, flying or airdrop aircraft having rearwardly stowed wings able to assume and/or be caused to assume a flight mode condition, and stowed stabilator components able to assume and/or be caused to assume a flight mode condition. The craft can carry a prone operator or passenger, head to the fore or advance direction, and is able to deploy, post drop from a drop condition (i.e. with stowed wings and stabilator components) into an in flight condition to provide a better than 4:1 glide ratio.

Description

"FLYING, GLIDING AND/OR AIRDROP CRAFT"
The present invention relates to powered flying, gliding and/or airdrop craft.
More particularly although not solely the present invention relates to an air drop craft able to glide and be controlled by an operator or remotely (irrespectively of whether occupied or not), or both or all.
The invention also, or instead, consists in an air craft with an undercarriage or airbag or other and able to land using that undercarriage, aiibag or other whether with a parachute or parasol assist, or not, or both.
The invention also consists in any of the variants herein described
Preferably the invention is a blended wing-body craft in its in flight mode (preferably without carnard stabilizer (s)).
Preferably the craft is able to carry an enclosed prone operator or passenger able to be released by carapace or canopy jettisoning
Preferably the craft preflight and/or airdrop can have a more compact stowed condition for the wings and/or the empennage.
Preferably that condition is not deleterious to airdrop capability of the craft from a mother aircraft (fixed or rotary winged), and to reconfiguration to in flight mode condition.
Preferably the craft can assume the in flight mode condition with the airflow assistance.
The present invention is an advance on earlier augmentation of freefall skydivers to provide an improved glide slope (eg, beyond webbed flight suits and beyond the carbon fibre wing of Austrian Felix Baumgartner).
It is even an advance of the SkyBoard™ personalised skydiving glider forms where a sole operator who lay prone head to the front. That earlier trialled glider involved a complex empennage to provide control for wings that assumed a deployed condition from a stowed condition. Such a form however relied upon an empennage of both vertical and horizontal stabilizers. The horizontal stabilizers swept to deployment simply in a sweep about a proximal pivot. Likewise the wings.
Such a craft we believe can be enhanced by any one or more of the following:
- more fully enclosing the operator,
providing a blended wing-body configuration,
obviating the need for any dedicated vertical stabilizers,
having no carnard stabilizers,
having the empennage configured at airdrop to a condition that best assists stability, - having movable stabilator components as the empennage, having the wings stowed rearwardly [optionally (but preferabl}) with their leading edge downwardly] to better assist stability at drop,
having the empennage and wings stowed in a condition that best compacts for mother aircraft stowage,
- having the wings stowed in a condition where air flow post airdrop assists deployment,
having the empennage stowed in a condition where air flow post airdrop assists deployment
In another aspect the invention is a blended wing-body craft to carry a prone operator or passenger, head to the fore or advance direction, and able to deplo) post drop from a drop condition into an in flight condition to provide a better than 4 1 glide ratio
Preferably the craft at drop has rearwardly folded wings from a carapaced or canopied body on and in which the operator or passenger lies
Preferably the wings at drop are with their leading edge downwards
Preferably the empennage is without a distinct vertical stabilizer in flight mode
Preferably the empennage is of paired deployable anhedral or polyhedral forms
In another aspect the invention is a carapaced blended wing-body gliding, flying or airdrop aircraft having
i) rearwardly stowed wings able to assume and/or be caused to assume a flight mode condition, and
ii) stowed stabilatoi components able to assume and/or be caused to assume a flight mode condition
In another aspect the invention is a personal (powered) flying or (powered or unpowered) gliding craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the ciaft having
a body on and/or in which an operator can lie prone with the operator's head in the advance or fore direction,
a pair of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
[and optionally (A) a detachable carapace or canopy to co-act with the body to create an at least substantially enclosed fuselage-like environment for the operator and/or (B) an undercarriage, retractable or otherwise wholly or in part, for the body],
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deplo) ed condition ("deployed condition")
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically and/or upwardly to the aft of the body,
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
Preferably said craft is an airdrop craft optionally with or without an undercarriage and/or a propulsive system.
Preferably said airdrop craft is a blended wing-body type craft when in its flight mode which is said deployed condition
Preferably in said deployed condition the control can be by means of control surfaces of the deployed wings themselves and/or some limited rotational control of the wings themselves. Similarly and/or alternatively the control in part can be the control of surfaces of the empennage and/or any limited movement of any one of the pair.
Preferably there is no distinct vertical stabilizer. Instead there is a pair of mirrored stabilizers, each of a gull wing form such that there is proximally a dihedral region followed by a more distal anhedral region when in the flight mode.
Preferably when undeployed however said empennage has each of those regions that are in flight mode anhedral directed substantially upwardly
Preferably the nature of the wings and/or the stabilizers of the empennage is such that air rush or air flow post drop moves the same from their stowed or at airdrop condition towards and preferably to their in flight mode condition
Optionally delays can be built into the deployment so as to best to sequence the deployment such delays can be resisted of the assistance provided by airflow or otherwise.
Preferably the wings in their deployed condition have some rearward sweep but they need not.
Preferably the wings when deployed are low wings
Preferably at least most of the structure of the airdrop craft is of carbon fibre composite material.
In another aspect the invention is an airdrop craft having
a body on and/or in which an operator or passenger can lie prone with the operator's or passenger's head in the advance or fore direction,
a pair of wings, each with at least one control surface controllable (by the operator or otherwise), one wing supported from and/or to each side of the body, and - A - a pair of rear stabilizers (preferably each stabilator assembly component), each stabilizer with at least one control surface (controllable by the operator or otherwise) each supported from and/or to the aft of the body, and
a detachable or jettisonable carapace or canopy to co-act with the body to create an at least substantially enclosed fuselage-like environment (eg for the operator, or passenger or other content)
and optionally (i) an undercarriage, retractable or otherwise wholly or in part, for the body and/or (n) a propulsive system for the body;
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition"):
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically (preferably upwardly) to the aft of the body;
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polj hedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto In another aspect the invention is a blended body aircraft able to be airdropped, the craft having
a carapaced or canopied body, to act as a lifting body,
a pair of wings, each wing with at least one controllable control surface, one wing supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each stabilizer with at least one controllable control surface, each stabilizer supported from and/or to the aft of the body;
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition"),
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially upwardly to the aft of the body;
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and blends into the carapaced or canopied body, and each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body
In yet another aspect the invention is a personal flying craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
a carapaced or canopied body to act as a lifting body, an operator being able to lie prone with head in the advance or fore direction, on the body and under the carapace or canopy,
a pair of wings, each wing with at least one controllable control surface, one wing supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each stabilizer with at least one controllable control surface, each stabilizer supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
an undercarriage, retractable or otherwise wholly or in part, for the body, and
a propulsive system for the craft,
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition")
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically (preferably upwardly) to the aft of the body,
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
In another aspect the invention is a stable air drop aircraft (powered or unpowered) having
1. a silhouette substantially as shown in Figures 49 to 51 of the accompanying drawings,
2. a stable air drop and/or stowed mode substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings, and/or
3. an in flight mode substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
In another aspect the invention is an airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
a carapaced or canopied body on and/or in which an operator can lie prone with head in the advance or fore direction, a pair of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and a pair of rear stabilizers, each supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition"):
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to die fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of the body,
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
In another aspect the invention is an airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
a carapaced or canopied body on and/or in which an operator can he prone with head in the advance or fore direction,
a pair of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition").
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of the bod) ,
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and <
each iear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferablj anhedially or pol}hedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/oi relative thereto In another aspect the invention is an airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
a carapaced or canopied body on and/or in which an operator can lie prone with head in the advance or fore direction,
a pan: of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each supported fiom and/or to the aft of the body,
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition").
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of the body;
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
In another aspect the invention is an airdrop craft of a blended wing-body type to be stabilized by at least one aft stabilizer;
wherein each wing at air drop will be rearwardly stowed, leading edge downwards;
and wherein air flow post airdrop will urge the wing from that stowed condition towards the in flight deployed condition
In another aspect the invention is an airdrop craft having a mirrored pair of aft stabilizers, each rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to, yet offset from, the craft's longitudinal axis, between an airdrop condition ("undeplo} ed") and an in flight mode condition ("deployed") wherein, in die deployed condition, each stabilizer is at least in part anhedral.
Preferably undeployed each stabilizer is at least in part upwardly extending.
Optionally each stabilizer is polyhedral.
Preferably each stabilizer, when deployed, is proximally dihedral and distally anhedral or is (more preferably) wholly anhedral
Preferably air flow post drop urges the each stabilizer from undeployed condition (optionally against a resistive control of deployment) In yet a further aspect the invention consists in a drop vehicle to carry at least one person (preferably one person) and able to deploy post drop from an undeployed drop condition to a deployed gliding condition
Preferably in the drop condition neither the wings nor empennage is in an in flight mode thereby to ensure fall away from a launch vehicle.
Pieferably said drop vehicle when fully deployed is in the form of a blended lifting body. Preferably said blended lifting body has a jettisonable carapace or canopy
Optionally the blended lifting body as an operable bottom hatch and/or can have a dischargeable load that conforms in part to part of the bottom of the craft
Preferably the drop vehicle is adapted to carry a single operator
Preferably said single operator is earned in a prone and head first direction within the vehicle
Preferably said wings deploy post drop from an undeployed condition folded rearwardly and with the leading edge downward assisted by the air rush post drop to the deployed condition Preferably the rear stabilizers are a pair of rear stabilizers, each in the drop condition substantially upwardly directed, yet each of which, when deployed, is outwardl) of the longitudinal axis of the body (and preferably bodi outwardly and angled downwardly eg anhedral or polyhedral to provide a gull-wing type geometry which is dihedral proximally and anhedial distally).
Preferably each stabilizers rotates about an axis or rotatable boom which is substantially parallel to, but offset from, the longitudinal axis of the craft.
Optionally the craft is adapted for "snagging".
In another aspect the invention is an air drop craft in the form of a blended wing/body craft when in powered flight or in unpowered flight (eg, gliding) mode, or both modes; wherein one or more of the following applies:
- the craft has an air drop mode to lessen likelihood post drop of recontacting the launch vehicle as a consequence of turbulence,
the craft has a stowage mode of reduce area when viewed in plan silhouette, the craft has a carapace that in conjunction with the blended body, in flight provides lift,
- the craft is adapted to air drop away nose first,
the craft (optionally) has a cargo/munition drop capability via a bottom hatch, the craft (optionally) has provision for occupant departure without departure from is retained carapace in flight mode,
the craft (optionally) has removable jet power provision,
- the craft has hub or rotatable boom mounted stabilizeis, the craft has rearwardly folded wings in the stowed mode and/or air drop mode, the craft has upwardly directed stabilizers in stowed and/or air drop mode, the craft is for a prone occupant,
the craft has control surfaces on its wings and stabilizers,
- the craft is non carnard winged,
the craft has avionics allowing any modes of operation elsewhere discussed.
We have determined that one or more of the foregoing aspects of the invention can confer advantages alone, together or in concert"
1. the wings fold and rotate against the body
(a) for storage,
(b) aircraft stowage,
(c) for aerodynamic stability when the craft is air dropped from an aircraft at high speed and high altitude as it reduces any tendency to proposing or other instability that cause collision risk with the "mother" aircraft,
(d) to induce a nose down attitude before wing deployment, and/or
(e) to utilise airflow to assist in deployment of wings to flight position.
2. (i) the method of stowing the rear tail assembly for storage and stowage,
(ii) die deployment of the rear stabilizer to its true in flight condition(s) only after deployment from a "mother" aircraft for flight stability on deployment and to prevent damage while keeping control, and
(in) to utilise airflow to assist in deployment of tail to flight position.
3. methods of landing parachute deployment where wing and tail surfaces rotate to storage position when parachute is deplo) ed to allow landing of vehicle in controlled manner while avoiding damage to key components so as to be reusable, and
4. lends itself to powered/unpowered options discussed, remote and/or on board control as discussed, landing and/or snagging options discussed, non air drop options discussed, the reduced stowage expanse options discussed, etc
The aircraft is to be available in glider and powered versions
The aircraft can use "off the shelf control technologies, but preferably incorporates a software based control system to manage the correct deployment and control of the flying wings.
As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.
As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
The teim "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, piefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpieted in the same manner
Some preferred forms of the present invention will now be desciibed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figures 1 to 36 show a craft in accordance with the present invention (optionally having an undercarriage and optionally having two drive engines) between, as in Figure 1 , a condition, having an upraised carapace or canopy to allow the positioning of an operator in a prone head first condition within the blended body of the craft, and showing the wings rearwardly folded (leading edge downwardly) and the tail stabilizers in an upward condition yet transiting through the figures to closed carapace or canopy conditions ready for drop or take off and showing the first of the wings moving to their deployed outwardly extending and blended condition with respect to the body prior to any substantial movement of the rear stabilizers to their deployed condition,
Figures 37 to 38 show how, post air drop or after takeoff and undercarriage retraction, the controllable flying craft or controllable air drop craft (eg, acts as a glider if the engines are not present or not powered), is able to be controlled reliant upon control suifaces of the outwardly extending wings of the blended body craft and the outwardly yet slightly downwardly extending tail stabilizers, Figures 38 onwards showing the rearward raising of the carapace or canopy for jettisoning, thereby to allow the prone operator shown to exit the craft, the optional parachute for the craft and the optional parachute for the jettisoned carapace or canopy not being shown and it being understood that the operator if leaving the craft mid air would himself or herself have a parachute, Figure 47 showing the operator finally being clear of the aircraft and Figure 48 showing the aircraft unmanned and without its carapace or canopy,
Figure 49 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment in plan and in its flight mode,
Figure 50 is a side elevation of the craft of Figure 49 with the advance direction to the left,
Figure 51 is a frontal view of the craft of Figures 49 and 50 showing its purely anhedral stabilizers at the rear,
Figure 52 is a similar view to that of Figure 49 but in a stowed and/or air drop mode,
Figure 53 is a view of the craft as shown in Figure 52 with the carapace raised and being viewed from the front,
Figure 54 shows the craft of Figures 49 to 53 after jettisoning of the carapace, loss of any occupant, and having its aft hatch opened ready for parachute deplo} ment,
Figure 55 is a similai view to that of Figure 54 but from above and fiom the rear, there being no parachute being shown in the aft hatch, Figure 56 shows the craft as in the configuration of Figures 54 and 55 being supported by a deployed parachute, and
Figure 57 is a similar view to that of Figure 56 but showing the craft supported from a deployed parachute from the fore direction
Preferred forms will now be discussed with respect to the accompanying drawings.
In one embodiment, the apparatus is an airdrop vehicle (preferably able to be used in conjunction with one or more parachute or parasol system or otherwise).
Preferably a body is defined that is to blend to the wings when in the flight mode.
Preferably an empennage for flight stability is provided that, in flight mode, differs in configuration from that at the point of air drop
Referring to Figure 1 , there can be seen a body 1 optionally with an undercarriage 2 and/or (not shown) an air bag landing support.
The body is preferably largely of carbon fibre composite material but preferably has a viewing region at its fore. This can be both an upwardly and downwardly facing transparent region 3.
Provided above the body 1 is a carapace or canopy 4 preferably mounted at 4A for articulation from its iear above the body 1 but in such a way as to pull that articulation down more towards the body for a snug latched fit when in the flight mode. It (optionally) is to be jettisonable by having the articulating mount rise above the deployed empennage and the body 1.
In the preferred form of the present invention, at airdrop, the empennage is substantially as shown in Figure 1 with the anhedral stabilizers 5 in substantially a vertical condition that provides little lift or downward force.
The wings 6, at air drop, are deployed rearwardly preferably with their leading edge 7 facing downwards eg, much in the way utilised in part with the Grumman wings in the Hellcat aircraft Unlike such Grumman wings, here there is a carapaced body in flight having a lifting body characteristic to co-act in a blended wing-body form with the wings 6 when deployed in flight.
Shown in Figure 1 is a boom or hub 8 from which each of the stabilizers 5 extends and which they can rotate to the inflight mode shown in for example Figure 37 about a rotational axis substantially parallel to the craft's fore and aft axis but, in each case, displaced on either side thereof.
The control surfaces of the wings are shown as including 9 in Figure 49. Likewise the control surfaces of the stabilizers 5 include surfaces 10.
The craft of the piesent invention can be operated in any one or more of a variety of modes. These range from air drop modes (eg, from a fixed or iotary winged launch vehicle or even a blimp) irrespectively of whether to land conventionally on an undeicarriage or a skid, whether to land on an air bag, whether to land by parachute, whether to be abandoned in flight by an occupant, whether itself when abandoned to be allowed to fall with or without parachute support(s), whether to be in flight retrieved (eg "snagged"), whethci to be capable of powered flight, whether to be remotely controlled totally or in part, and whether to be occupied at all.
By way of example
a (wireless) control system can be taken from the craft by the pilot when he parachutes down— or else the craft can be remote controlled from off the craft,
- the craft can be a cargo carrier, to be on board or off board (ie, remotely) controlled,
the person in the craft need not be the pilot; the craft may be controlled from elsewhere or have an autopilot;
landing can be cushioned with airbags— and this allows a non-pilot or cargo to be landed with the craft;
the L/D (lift to drag ratio) potential can be controlled by the extent of the carapace The modes also include powered take off modes or towed takeoff modes with any subsequent type of operation desired.
To allow powered flight, whether post air drop or not, preferably at least one above body jet propulsion unit 11 is an optional feature. Such small jet units include those evolved for jet belts and subsequendy further developed for cruise missile use. Any suitable mounting, fuel feed and engine control provision can be employed.
Any suitable mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic systems can be employed for resisting/assisting mode changes (eg, post air drop or post snagging), control of flight surfaces and/or angels of attack, the sequencing of wing and empennage deployment, undercarriage control, parachute control, etc.
Microprocessors can be involved to assist flight control and/or navigation
An embodiment of the invention with optional and removable jet power units 11 showing in Figures 49 through 57 in the flight mode. As shown it operates to carry, if desired, an operator or a passenger, yet upon jettisoning of the operator or occupant (or indeed a cargo) which follows carapace jettisoning or (in the case of a cargo being deployed or ordinance being deployed eg via an optional bottom hatch) allows a rear hatch 12 to open (as in part shown in Figure 52) thereby to allow a paiachute 13 to deploy for retrieval purposes That letrieval puipose can be upon landing of the craft or by snagging of the craft in some way whilst airborne In other forms of the present invention the recover}' may or may not include a parachute ie, snagging can be accomplished by an airborne craft without deployment of a parachute.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS
1 A blended wing-body craft to carry a prone operator or passenger, head to the fore or advance direction, and able to deploy post drop from a drop condition into an in flight condition to provide a better than 4:1 glide ratio.
2. A craft of claim 1 wherein the craft, at drop, has rearwardly folded wings from a carapaced or canopied body on and in which the operator or passenger lies
3. A craft of claim 2 wherein the wings at drop are with their leading edge downwards.
4. A craft of any one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein it has an empennage and the empennage is without a distinct vertical stabilizer in flight mode.
5 A craft of claim 4 wherein the empennage is of paired deploy able anhedral or polyhedral forms.
6. A carapaced blended wing-body gliding, flying or airdrop aircraft having
i) rearwardly stowed wings able to assume and/or be caused to assume a flight mode condition, and
ii) stowed stabilator components able to assume and/or be caused to assume a flight mode condition.
7. A personal (powered) flying or (powered or unpowered) gliding craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
a body on and/or in which an operator can lie prone with the operator's head in the advance or fore direction,
a pair of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
[and optionally (A) a detachable carapace or canop} to co-act with the body to create an at least substantially enclosed fuselage-like environment for the operator and/or (B) an undercarriage, retractable or otherwise wholly or in part, for the body];
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition"):
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically and/or upwardly to the aft of the body;
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the bod) , leading edge to the fore, and each rear stabilizei extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outvvaidly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto. 8 A craft of claim 7 which is an airdrop craft optionally with or without an undercarriage and/or optionally with or without a propulsive system
9. A craft of claim 7 or 8 which is a blended wing-body type craft when in its flight mode which is said deployed condition
10. A craft of any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein in said deployed condition, the control can be by means of control surfaces of the deployed wings themselves and/or some limited rotational control of the wings themselves
11. A craft of any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the control in part can be the control of surfaces of the or an empennage
12. A craft of any one of claim 7 to 11 wherein there is a parr of mirrored stabilizers of an empennage, each of a gull wing form such that there is proximally a dihedral region followed by a more distal anhedral region when in the flight mode.
13. A craft of claim 12 wherein when undeployed, said empennage has each of those regions that are in flight mode anhedral directed substantially upwardly.
14. A craft of any one of claims 7 to 13 wherein the nature of the wings and/or the stabilizers of a or the empennage is such that air rush or air flow post drop moves the same from their stowed or at airdrop condition towards and preferably to their in flight mode condition.
15. An airdrop craft having
a body on and/or in which an operator or passenger can lie prone with the operator's or passenger's head in the advance or fore direction,
a pair of wings, each with at least one control surface controllable (by the operator or otherwise), one wing supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each stabilizer with at least one control surface each supported from and/or to the aft of the body, and
a detachable or jettisonable carapace or canopy to co-act with the body to create an at least substantially enclosed fuselage-like environment
and optionally (i) an undercarriage, retractable or otherwise wholly or in part, for the body and/or (n) a propulsive system for the body;
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition")
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically (pieferably upwardly) to the aft of the body,
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the foie, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto 16 A blended body aircraft able to be airdropped, the craft having
a carapaced or canopied body, to act as a lifting body,
a pair of wings, each wing with at least one controllable control surface, one wing supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each stabilizer with at least one controllable control surface, each stabilizer supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition"),
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantiall) upwardly to the aft of the body,
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and blends into the carapaced or canopied body, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body
17 A personal flying craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having a carapaced or canopied body to act as a lifting body, an opeiator being able to lie prone with head in the advance or fore direction, on the body and under the carapace or canopy,
a pair of wings, each wing with at least one controllable control surface, one wing supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each stabilizer with at least one controllable control surface, each stabilizer supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
an undercarriage, retractable or otherwise wholly or in part, for the body, and
a propulsive system for the craft,
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition") and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed substantially vertically (preferably upwardly) to the aft of the body;
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto. 18. A stable air drop aircraft (powered or unpowered) having
1. a silhouette substantially as shown in Figures 49 to 51 of the accompanying drawings,
2. a stable air drop and/or stowed mode substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings, and/or
3. an in flight mode substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
19. An airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
a carapaced or canopied body on and/or in which an operator can lie prone with head in the advance or fore direction,
a pair of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition"):
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of the body;
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
20. An airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having a carapaced or canopied body on and/or in which an operator can he prone with head in the advance or fore direction,
a pair of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each supported from and/or to the aft of the body,
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition").
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of trie body;
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwardly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto. 21. An airdrop craft controllable by a prone person as operator, the craft having
a carapaced or canopied body on and/or in which an operator can lie prone with head in the advance or fore direction,
a pair of wings, one supported from and/or to each side of the body, and
a pair of rear stabilizers, each supported from and/or to the aft of the bod},
wherein the craft has at least one undeployed condition ("undeployed condition") and at least one deployed condition ("deployed condition"):
and wherein, in the undeployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body
each wing, leading edge downwards, is stowed backwardly along the body, and each rear stabilizer, leading edge to the fore, is stowed in an undeployed condition to the aft of the body;
and wherein, in the deployed condition,
the carapaced or canopied body acts as a lifting body,
each wing extends outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body, leading edge to the fore, and
each rear stabilizer extends outwardly (preferably anhedrally or polyhedrally outwaidly and inclined downwardly) of the longitudinal axis of the body and/or relative thereto.
22. An airdrop craft of a blended wing-body type to be stabilized by at least one aft stabilizer;
wherein each wing at air drop will be rearwardly stowed, leading edge downwards;
and wherein air flow post airdrop will urge the wing from that stowed condition towards the in flight deployed condition
23 An airdrop craft having a mirrored pair of aft stabilizers, each rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to, yet offset from, the craft's longitudinal axis, between an airdrop condition ("undeployed") and an in flight mode condition ("deployed") wherein, in the deployed condition, each stabilizer is at least in part anhedral
24 A craft of claim 23 wherein, when undeployed, each stabilizer is at least in part upwardly extending.
25. A craft of claim 24 wherein each stabilizer is polyhedral.
26. A craft of claim 25 wherein each stabilizer, when deployed, is proximally dihedral and distally anhedral or is (more preferably) wholly anhedral.
27. A craft of claim 23, 24 or 25 wherein air flow post drop urges the each stabilizer from undeployed condition (optionally against a resistive control of deployment)
28. A drop vehicle to carry at least one person and able to deploy post drop from an undeployed drop condition to a deployed gliding condition.
29. A craft of claim 28 wherein there are wings and an empennage, and, in the drop condition, neither the wings nor empennage is in an in flight mode thereby to ensure fall away from a launch vehicle.
30. A craft of claim 28 or 29 wherein said drop vehicle when fully deployed is in the form of a blended lifting body
31 A craft of any one of claims 28 to 30 wherein said blended lifting body has a jettisonable carapace or canopy
32 A craft of any one of claims 28 to 31 wherein the blended lifting body as an operable bottom hatch and/or can have a dischargeable load that conforms in part to part of the bottom of the craft
33. A craft of any one of claims 28 to 32 adapted to carry a single operator.
34. A craft of claim 33 wherein said single operator is carried in a prone and head first direction within the vehicle.
35 A craft of claim 29 wheiein said wings deploy post drop from an undeployed condition folded rearwardly and with the leading edge downward assisted by the air rush post drop to the deployed condition 36 A craft of claim 29 wherein there are a pair of rear stabilizers, each in the drop condition substantially upwardly directed, yet each of which, when deployed, is outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the body
37 A craft of claim 36 where each stabilizer is both outwaidly and angled downwardly (eg anhedral or polyhedral) to provide a gull-wing type geometry which is dihedral pioximally and anhedral distally
38 A craft of claim 36 or 37 each stabilizers rotates about an axis or rotatable boom which is substantially parallel to, but offset from, the longitudinal axis of the craft
39 A craft of any one of claims 28 to 38
40 An air drop craft in the form of a blended wing/body craft when in powered flight or in unpowered flight (eg, gliding) mode, or both modes, wherein one or more of the following applies
the craft has an air drop mode to lessen likelihood post drop of recontacting the launch vehicle as a consequence of turbulence,
- the craft has a stowage mode of reduce area when viewed in plan silhouette,
the craft has a carapace that in conjunction with the blended bod) , in flight provides lift,
the craft is adapted to air drop away nose first,
the craft (optionally) has a cargo/munition drop capability via a bottom hatch, - the craft (optionally) has provision for occupant departure without departure from is ietained carapace in flight mode,
the craft (optionally) has removable jet power provision,
the craft has hub or rotatable boom mounted stabilizers,
the craft has rearwardly folded wings in the stowed mode and/or air drop mode, - the craft has upwardly directed stabilizers in stowed and/or air drop mode,
the craft is for a prone occupant,
the craft has control surfaces on its wings and stabilizers,
the craft is non carnard winged,
the craft has avionics allowing any modes of operation elsewhere discussed 41 An airdrop craft able to glide, and be controlled by an operator or remotely, the craft being a blended wing-body craft in its in flight mode yet die craft preflight and/or at airdrop can have a more compact stowed condition for the wings and/or an oi the empennage
42 A craft of claim 41 wherein the at airdrop condition is not deleterious to aiidrop capability of the craft from a mothei aircraft (fixed or rotary winged), nor to its reconfiguration to in flight mode condition
43. A craft of claim 41 or 42 wherein the craft can assume the in flight mode condition with airflow assistance.
PCT/NZ2010/000124 2009-06-30 2010-06-25 Flying, gliding and/or airdrop craft WO2011002309A1 (en)

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NZ578109 2009-06-30

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GB2490141A (en) * 2011-04-19 2012-10-24 Blue Bear Systems Res Ltd Unmanned air vehicle (UAV) having wings and tailerons hinged to a fuselage
WO2016097375A1 (en) * 2014-12-19 2016-06-23 Dae Drone and associated airborne intervention equipment
DE102015105706A1 (en) * 2015-04-14 2016-10-20 Johann Schwöller plane
WO2017153393A1 (en) * 2016-03-10 2017-09-14 Institut Superieur De L'aeronautique Et De L'espace - Isae Vortex wake attenuation device
EP3760538A1 (en) * 2019-07-01 2021-01-06 Broelstaerk ApS Autonomous multi-rotor airplane
CN113968354A (en) * 2021-11-23 2022-01-25 吉林大学 But air-drop self-driven coral reef structure-imitated micro aircraft carries on puts in device

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Cited By (12)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2490141A (en) * 2011-04-19 2012-10-24 Blue Bear Systems Res Ltd Unmanned air vehicle (UAV) having wings and tailerons hinged to a fuselage
GB2490141B (en) * 2011-04-19 2015-02-11 Blue Bear Systems Res Ltd Air Vehicle
WO2016097375A1 (en) * 2014-12-19 2016-06-23 Dae Drone and associated airborne intervention equipment
CN107743469A (en) * 2014-12-19 2018-02-27 达鄂公司 The aerial intervention apparatu of UAV and correlation
US10793271B2 (en) 2014-12-19 2020-10-06 Dae Drone and associated airborne intervention equipment
DE102015105706A1 (en) * 2015-04-14 2016-10-20 Johann Schwöller plane
WO2016166256A1 (en) 2015-04-14 2016-10-20 Schwöller Johann Aircraft
WO2017153393A1 (en) * 2016-03-10 2017-09-14 Institut Superieur De L'aeronautique Et De L'espace - Isae Vortex wake attenuation device
FR3048674A1 (en) * 2016-03-10 2017-09-15 Inst Superieur De L'aeronautique Et De L'espace - Isae TOURBILLONARY WAKE ATTENUATION DEVICE
EP3760538A1 (en) * 2019-07-01 2021-01-06 Broelstaerk ApS Autonomous multi-rotor airplane
CN113968354A (en) * 2021-11-23 2022-01-25 吉林大学 But air-drop self-driven coral reef structure-imitated micro aircraft carries on puts in device
CN113968354B (en) * 2021-11-23 2023-10-31 吉林大学 Miniature aircraft carrying and throwing device capable of realizing air drop self-driving and imitating coral reef structure

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