Patent ID: 7201346

Claim:
A VTOL aircraft that uses lift, thrust and buoyancy forces together to achieve high flight efficiency, the aircraft comprising: a continuous symmetrical wing that surrounds a central void, the wing comprising a radially outer most edge, a radially inner most edge, and a top surface extending between the radially outer most edge and the radially inner most edge and comprising a peak closer to the radially outer most edge than the radially inner most edge creating a camber wing cross section so that when air is pulled over the wing low pressure is created over the wing resulting in lift, a propulsion system that is located in the central void and moves air radially inwardly over the radially outer most edge of the wing, the top surface of the wing, and the radially inner most edge of the wing, through the center void, and downward below the aircraft resulting in thrust forces upward against the aircraft, an air dam that is located above the central void and restricts air located directly above the central void from being a source of air flow through the central void so that air is forced to flow over the wing from the radially outer most edge resulting in continuous symmetrical lift forces on the wing, and contained sub-atmospheric pressure gases causing a buoyancy effect resulting in additional lifting forces on the aircraft, wherein the sub-atmospheric pressure gases partially fill flexible bladders which are configured to expand in response to application of heat, and each bladder is housed in a cavity defined by an unsealed container.