Tail-sitter aircraft with legged undercarriage foldable to form rear fuselage
First Claim
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1. An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
multiple wings each attached to and extending transversely from the fuselage; and
multiple legs movable from a closed configuration in which legs form a tail assembly to an open configuration in which the legs at least partially form landing gear.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a tail-sitter aircraft having a leg assembly convertible from landing gear into a rear fuselage and empennage (or a tail assembly) of the aircraft. Generally, the leg assembly includes multiple legs movable from a closed configuration in which the legs form the tail assembly of the tail-sitter aircraft to an open configuration in which the legs form the landing gear of the tail-sitter aircraft (and vice-versa).
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aircraft comprising:
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a fuselage; multiple wings each attached to and extending transversely from the fuselage; and multiple legs movable from a closed configuration in which legs form a tail assembly to an open configuration in which the legs at least partially form landing gear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of launching an aircraft, said method comprising:
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after multiple legs of the aircraft are in an open configuration and at least partially support the aircraft, controlling the aircraft to climb in thrust-borne flight; and afterwards, controlling the legs to move to a closed configuration to form a tail assembly of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of landing an aircraft, said method comprising:
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controlling the aircraft to descend in thrust-borne flight; afterward, controlling multiple legs of the aircraft to move from a closed configuration in which the legs form a tail assembly of the aircraft to an open configuration; and controlling the aircraft to descend until the legs contact a landing surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification