Patent ID: 8584984

Claim:
A foldable wing for use in a very high altitude aircraft capable of operating at an altitude at or above 85,000 feet, the foldable wing comprising: a first spar section, a second spar section, and a third spar section, wherein the first spar section is positioned closest to a fuselage of the very high altitude aircraft, the second spar section is positioned adjacent to the first spar section, and the third spar section is positioned adjacent to the second spar section and farthest away from the fuselage; a first hinge and a second hinge, wherein the first hinge rotationally connects the first spar section to the second spar section at a first angle, and wherein the second hinge rotationally connects the second spar section to the third spar section at the first angle, and further wherein the third spar section is configured to rotate substantially 180° such that an outermost portion of the third spar section is located vertically above an innermost portion of the second spar section, and further wherein the second spar section is configured to rotate substantially 180° such that an outermost portion of the second spar section is located vertically above an innermost portion of the first spar section, and the outermost portion of the third spar section is located vertically above an outermost portion of the first spar section, and wherein each of the plurality of spar sections is configured to receive and transfer a gas, the received and transferred gas causing each of the plurality of spar sections to rotate.