Patent ID: 7014142

Claim:
A method of operating an aircraft, comprising: providing a plurality of elongated blades operatively coupled to a fuselage, a first one of the elongated blades including a body portion and a flap portion, the body portion having first and second edges and forming a non-symmetric portion proximate the second edge, the flap portion being moveably coupled to the body portion proximate the second edge; positioning the flap portion in a rotary flight position wherein the flap portion is proximate at least part of the non-symmetric portion such that the non-symmetric portion and the flap portion combine to form a symmetric portion proximate the second edge; generating lift in a vertical flight mode of operation including rotating the blade with the flap portion in the rotary flight position such that the second edge is a leading edge of the blade; positioning the flap portion in a forward flight position wherein the flap portion extends away from the non-symmetric portion of the body portion to form a tapered portion proximate the second edge; and generating lift in a forward flight mode of operation including fixing the blade in a stationary position with the flap portion in the forward flight position.