COMBINED LAUNCH AND MISSION VEHICLES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An aircraft, comprising:
- a mission vehicle configured to follow vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) operations and to execute forward flight, hover/loiter and landing operations; and
a launch vehicle configured to drive the mission vehicle through at least vertical take-off (VTO) operations,the launch vehicle being umbilically coupled to the mission vehicle during the VTO operations and releasable from the mission vehicle thereafter.
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Abstract
An aircraft is provided and includes a mission vehicle configured to follow vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) operations and to execute forward flight, hover/loiter and landing operations and a launch vehicle configured to drive the mission vehicle through at least vertical take-off (VTO) operations. The launch vehicle is umbilically coupled to the mission vehicle during the VTO operations and releasable from the mission vehicle thereafter.
32 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An aircraft, comprising:
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a mission vehicle configured to follow vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) operations and to execute forward flight, hover/loiter and landing operations; and a launch vehicle configured to drive the mission vehicle through at least vertical take-off (VTO) operations, the launch vehicle being umbilically coupled to the mission vehicle during the VTO operations and releasable from the mission vehicle thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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10. A launch vehicle for use with a mission vehicle of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the launch vehicle comprising:
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a fuselage including an engine nacelle; a rotor drivable by the engine nacelle to thereby drive the mission and launch vehicles during at least vertical take-off (VTO) operations; and alighting elements coupled to the fuselage proximate to the engine nacelle and configured to support the launch vehicle during ground operations, the fuselage being umbilically coupled to the mission vehicle during the VTO operations and releasable from the mission vehicle thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification