Patent ID: 6264136
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B64C,Y02T

Abstract:
An aircraft having a center of gravity and comprising:a lifting body having an aspect ratio less than two, a payload compartment and an aerodynamic center;a rotatable wing with an aspect ratio greater than three, said wing being rotatably connected to the lifting body rearwardly of the aircraft center of gravity, said wing having a wing aerodynamic center and being rotatable about a spanwise axis that is relatively near the wing aerodynamic center;said wing being rotatable in pitch relative to the lifting body;said wing including spanwise aerodynamic surfaces hinged to move automatically as the wing is rotated such that the wing camber is increased and decreased automatically proportionally as the wing is rotated relative to the lifting body; andwherein rotation of the wing to decrease its angle of attack relative to the lifting body increases the angle of attack of the lifting body, and rotation of the wing to increase its angle of attack relative to the lifting body decreases the angle of attack of the lifting body.