High performance amphibious aircraft
First Claim
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1. An amphibious aircraft having a weight to volume ratio creating an overall density less than water, comprising in combination:
- an airfoil platform having a longitudinally tapered thickness from a forward portion thereof to a rear portion thereof such that lift is provided by said airfoil platform, a fuselage integrally formed with said airfoil platform and defining a continuous surface therewith., defining a cabin extending upwardly from and located along the longitudinal centerline of the platform, a pair of opposed sponsons affixed to the underside of said platform and extending over substantially the entire length of said platform to define a diminishing volume tunnel with said platform, said sponsons being partially defined by opposing substantially vertical stepped surfaces, a bottom hydrodynamic lift surface and an intermediate hydrodynamic lift surface each being substantially perpendicular to adjacent vertical stepped surfaces, and each sponson of said pair having a faceted outer surface, a pair of wings extending laterally from said platform and forming a substantially continuous upper surface therewith, means for providing propulsion to said aircraft and means for controlling the motion of said aircraft.
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Abstract
An amphibious aircraft, capable of high speed maneuverability on the surface of the water, utilizes a aerodynamic platform to generate lift and to define a tunnel with a pair of central sponsons extending inwardly of the wings of the aircraft longitudinally of the platform which supports the cockpit and propulsion system.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An amphibious aircraft having a weight to volume ratio creating an overall density less than water, comprising in combination:
- an airfoil platform having a longitudinally tapered thickness from a forward portion thereof to a rear portion thereof such that lift is provided by said airfoil platform, a fuselage integrally formed with said airfoil platform and defining a continuous surface therewith., defining a cabin extending upwardly from and located along the longitudinal centerline of the platform, a pair of opposed sponsons affixed to the underside of said platform and extending over substantially the entire length of said platform to define a diminishing volume tunnel with said platform, said sponsons being partially defined by opposing substantially vertical stepped surfaces, a bottom hydrodynamic lift surface and an intermediate hydrodynamic lift surface each being substantially perpendicular to adjacent vertical stepped surfaces, and each sponson of said pair having a faceted outer surface, a pair of wings extending laterally from said platform and forming a substantially continuous upper surface therewith, means for providing propulsion to said aircraft and means for controlling the motion of said aircraft.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- 5. An amphibian aircraft comprising a central platform having an upper surface in the shape of an airfoil and a substantially planar lower surface, a fuselage mounted superiorly centrally on said platform, a pair of sponsons integrally formed beneath said platform including substantially vertical inner sponson surfaces and faceted outer sponson surfaces, each sponson having a bottom hydrodynamic lift surface and an intermediate hydrodynamic lift surface formed on said vertical inner sponson surface, a pair of wings forming a laterally continuous surface from said upper surface and extending outwardly from said central platform, an empennage affixed to said central platform, and a plurality of control surfaces providing lateral and vertical directional control.
Specification