Patent ID: 8317126

Claim:
An aircraft having a fuselage provided with a lift/propulsion unit, the lift/propulsion unit comprising: a mechanical transmission mechanism; a power unit; a fan which is driveably connected to the power unit by the mechanical transmission mechanism, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises of a gearbox, the fan having a rotary axis which extends upwardly in the attitude of the aircraft corresponding to level flight, and being provided with vectoring means for adjusting the direction of thrust generated by the fan, wherein the vectoring means has at least one vectoring nozzle which is mounted for swivelling movement with respect to the fan; and an electrical motor/generator operable as a motor to drive the fan, and operable as an electrical generator driven by the power unit to provide electrical energy, wherein the electrical motor/generator has a main shaft; a first end directly connected to the power unit via the main shaft; and a second end opposite to the first end directly connected to the gearbox to drive the fan via the main shaft.