Patent ID: 6343768
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: B64C

Abstract:
A vertical/short take-off and landing air vehicle capable of producing high speed horizontal flight comprising:a) a fuselage; b) a lifting surface comprising at least one wing, said wing with a substantially U shape opening forming substantially two laterally disposed wing halves, where an open end of said U shape opening is positioned at a trailing edge of said wing; c) an articulated rotor system attached between said laterally disposed wing halves in said U shape opening comprising: a set of coaxial counter-rotating rotors; interconnected by a transmission; d) a power source operably connected to said rotor system through said transmission; wherein said rotor system is positional in a substantially vertical position to provide sufficient direct vertical thrust for vertical take-off and landing and is directable to other positions to provide a varying spectrum of take-off and landing configurations as well as a substantially horizontal position for high speed horizontal flight; said fuselage being substantially disposed over a front half of said rotor system when said rotor system is in said vertical position, and disposed in front of said rotor system when said rotor system is in said horizontal position.