Passenger transport module system for supersonic aircraft

• US 6,817,579 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Werner Inden
• Original Assignee: Astrium GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: van der Velden, Alexander, Stockfleth, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sukman, Gabriel S.
• Application Number:
  US10/214,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/137.1, 244/137.2, 244/138.R, 244/139, 244/140
• US Class Current: 244/137.2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/02 Flying units formed by separate aircraft towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0046 Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/12 Ejectable capsules

Abstract

An autonomous passenger module is releasably carried on a super-sonic aircraft, such as a military fighter jet, for carrying plural passengers on supersonic and near space flights. The passenger module is equipped with passenger service and life support systems to provide oxygen and the like, a parachute system, and a landing airbag or flotation aid system. The module remains mounted on the aircraft throughout a normal flight. In an emergency situation, the module separates from the aircraft by means of releasable connector elements and descends using parachutes. The module provides high passenger capacity at a low cost in a simple manner for commercial supersonic flights using an existing supersonic aircraft as a carrier platform.

Claims

1. A system for the supersonic transport of plural passengers comprising:

a supersonic aircraft including a cockpit therein for a pilot to control said aircraft; and

an autonomous passenger module mounted outside and on top of said aircraft higher than said cockpit and connected to said aircraft;

wherein said autonomous passenger module includes a passenger cabin adapted to accommodate plural passengers therein, a passenger service and life support system to serve and support the passengers in said passenger cabin, and an aerodynamic nose that is frontally exposed above said aircraft; and

wherein said autonomous passenger module does not include a let propulsion engine adapted to propel said module in powered flight, does not include a pilot cockpit, and does not include powered-flight controls adapted to control a powered flight of said module or said aircraft.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said aircraft is a military fighter type jet aircraft.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said aircraft has a maximum occupancy capacity of three person. including the pilot inside said aircraft itself.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising attitude control thrusters provided on at least one of said aircraft and said passenger module.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said thrusters are provided on said aircraft.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a thrust booster rocket provided on at least one of said aircraft and said passenger module.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said thrust booster rocket is provided on said aircraft.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising attitude control thrusters and a thrust booster rocket provided on said aircraft.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising pyrotechnically explodable connector elements that releasably connect said passenger module to said aircraft.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger module further includes a parachute system with at least one parachute adapted to enable a parachute supported descent of said passenger module.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising releasable connector elements that releasably connect said passenger module to said aircraft, such that said passenger module can be separated from said aircraft by releasing said releasable connector elements and can descend separately from said aircraft supported from said at least one parachute.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger module further includes at least one of selectively deployable landing airbags and selectively deployable flotation aids.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger service and life support system includes an oxygen supply adapted to provide oxygen for the passengers in said passenger cabin.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger service and life support system includes a pressurizing device to pressurize said passenger cabin.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger service and life support system includes at least one of a heating device and a cooling device to control a temperature in said passenger cabin.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger service and life support system includes an electrical power supply system.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger service and life support system includes a radio communication system.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger module further includes at least four passenger seats arranged in said passenger cabin to accommodate at least four passengers in said passenger cabin.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger module further includes at least ten passenger seats arranged in said passenger cabin to accommodate at least ten passengers in said passenger cabin.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger module further includes plural passenger seats arranged in plural two-abreast rows in said passenger cabin.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger cabin is divided into plural separate passenger compartments, and further comprising at least one respective passenger seat arranged in each one of said passenger compartments.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passenger module further includes canopy-type windows enclosing said passenger cabin.