Patent ID: 6561455
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B64C

Abstract:
A vertical take-off and landing and horizontal flight aircraft, comprising:a fuselage with a pair of wings providing lift during horizontal flight; at least one main engine carried by said fuselage; a rotor system on a nose of said fuselage providing lift during vertical take-off and landing, said rotor system having at least one rotor that is structured and arranged to be stowed in said fuselage during horizontal flight; a first pair of ducted fan propellers mounted on respective ones of said pair of wings; a second pair of ducted fan propellers mounted adjacent to a tail of said fuselage, said second pair of ducted propellers being tiltable to vary a direction of thrust relative to a longitudinal axis of said fuselage; a hydraulic system powered by said at least one main engine, said hydraulic system being connected to and generating propulsive hydraulic power for said rotor system, said first pair of ducted fan propellers, and said second pair of ducted fan propellers; and a control system for controlling said hydraulic system, said control system providing propulsive hydraulic power to said rotor system and to said second pair of ducted fan propellers during vertical take-off and landing and not to said first pair of ducted fan propellers during vertical take-off and landing and providing propulsive hydraulic power to said first and second pairs of ducted fan propellers during horizontal flight and not to said rotor system during horizontal flight.