Patent ID: 8172181
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: B64C,B64D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of improving fuel range of an aircraft having a wing, by steps comprising: providing an aerodynamic fairing configured to reduce an abrupt change in area encountered a flow of fluid over a length of a fuselage of the aircraft during flight, thereby reducing drag encountered by said aircraft during flight; and securing said aerodynamic fairing atop said aircraft and adjacent a front windshield, wherein said aerodynamic fairing in cooperation with an external skin covering a cockpit of said aircraft form an enclosed volume there between, wherein said aerodynamic fairing forms no portion of said wing, and further wherein at least a portion of the front windshield extends beneath the fairing, and in which the external skin covering the cockpit blocks at least a portion of a field of view above the head of a pilot flying the aircraft.