Patent ID: 8152096

Claim:
An aircraft comprising: a fuselage having a longitudinal axis; a left wing extending from said fuselage; a right wing extending from said fuselage; a tail section extending from a rear portion of said fuselage; a first ducted fan rotatably mounted to said left wing; a second ducted Ian rotatably mounted to said right wing; and an engine disposed in said fuselage, said engine comprising a direct-drive, double-ended driveshaft having an axis of rotation oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis of said fuselage; wherein said first ducted fan comprises a first differential operably connected between first and second rows of counter rotating fan blades; wherein said second ducted fan comprises a second differential operably connected between third and fourth rows of counter rotating fan blades; wherein one end of said driveshaft is directly connected to said first differential, and the other end of said driveshaft is directly connected to said second differential.