Patent ID: 8157203

Claim:
An aircraft, comprising: a fuselage comprising a forward end and an aft end; a first lifting surface with a first leading edge, wherein the first lifting surface is rotatably connected to the fuselage; a second lifting surface with a second leading edge, wherein the second lifting surface is rotatably connected to the fuselage; wherein the first and second lifting surfaces are configured to: rotate prior to at least one of takeoff and landing such that each of the first and second leading edges forms an angle of between thirty and one hundred fifty degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage when the fuselage is disposed in a substantially vertical position; and rotate after takeoff such that each of the first and second leading edges is positioned toward the forward end of the fuselage; wherein the fuselage is configured to engage a launch system adapted to rotate the fuselage about its longitudinal axis prior to launch.