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VTOL personal aircraft

  • US 6,886,776 B2
  • Filed: 09/11/2002
  • Issued: 05/03/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A personal aircraft (PAC) capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and having a center of gravity, said aircraft comprising, in combination:

  • (a) a fuselage forming a passenger compartment and having a four sides, including a front side, a rear side and two lateral sides, said fuselage defining a central longitudinal axis of said aircraft;

    (b) fixed wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said wing being attached to the fuselage and extending outward with respect to said two lateral sides at a longitudinal position along said central axis of said aircraft such that the center of gravity of said aircraft is between said leading edge and said trailing edge;

    (c) a plurality of thrusters, each comprising a thruster outlet duct and being attached to said wing, said thrusters being capable of providing both vertical lift and horizontal thrust to said aircraft, said thrusters being movable, between a first position in which they provide vertical lift and a second position in which they provide horizontal thrust;

    wherein the lift-to-drag ratio of the aircraft resulting from forward motion of the craft through the air and excluding vertical lift provided by said thrusters is greater than 4;

    1 with the aircraft flying at a cruising speed in the range of 50 to 100 MPH.

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