Patent ID: 6886776
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: B64C,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A personal aircraft (PAC) capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and having a center of gravity, said aircraft comprising, in combination: (a) a fuselage forming a passenger compartment and having a four sides, including a front side, a rear side and two lateral sides, said fuselage defining a central longitudinal axis of said aircraft; (b) fixed wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said wing being attached to the fuselage and extending outward with respect to said two lateral sides at a longitudinal position along said central axis of said aircraft such that the center of gravity of said aircraft is between said leading edge and said trailing edge; (c) a plurality of thrusters, each comprising a thruster outlet duct and being attached to said wing, said thrusters being capable of providing both vertical lift and horizontal thrust to said aircraft, said thrusters being movable, between a first position in which they provide vertical lift and a second position in which they provide horizontal thrust; wherein the lift-to-drag ratio of the aircraft resulting from forward motion of the craft through the air and excluding vertical lift provided by said thrusters is greater than 4:1 with the aircraft flying at a cruising speed in the range of 50 to 100 MPH.