Transformable airplane

• US 7,093,798 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Liebeck, Robert H., Brown, Derrell L., Whelan, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holzen, Stephen A.
• Application Number:
  US10/769,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20050178912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/118.2, 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 244/119, 244/120, 244/125, 244/137.1, 244/1.R, 244/137.2, 244/137.3, 244/135.R, 244/135.A, 244/135.B, 244/135.C, 244/136
• US Class Current: 244/120
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/0009 Aerodynamic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/065 Spars
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/10 Bulkheads
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2001/0045 Fuselages characterised by special shapes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2039/105 of blended wing body type
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2211/00 Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0046 Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/00 Refuelling during flight filling or emptying fuel tanks B64D37/14

Abstract

A transformable airplane may be reconfigured easily and rapidly to perform any one or a combination of tanking, transport, bombing, or command and control missions as desired for a tactical situation by installing or replacing mission-specific modules as desired. A reconfigurable aircraft includes a pair of wings and an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body. The at least one bay is configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions. Transport mission modules may include space and tie-downs for cargo pallets and/or palletized seating. A roll-on/roll-off ramp may be provided. Tanking mission modules may include a remote aerial refueling operator station. Bombing mission modules may include a bomb rack and a bomb ejector. ISR mission modules may include command and control stations in signal communication with phased array antennas.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable aircraft comprising:

a pair of wings; and

an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body, the at least one bay including a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions, the plurality of removably replaceable modules including a removably replaceable tanker module adapted for a tanker aircraft mission, the removably replaceable tanker module including a remote aerial refueling operator station.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the plurality of removably replaceable modules further includes a removably replaceable cargo module adapted for a transport aircraft mission.

3. The aircraft of claim 2, wherein the removably replaceable cargo module includes at least one cargo pallet.

4. The aircraft of claim 2, wherein the removably replaceable cargo module includes palletized seating.

5. The aircraft of claim 2, further comprising a roll-on/roll-off ramp.

6. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the plurality of removably replaceable modules further includes a removably replaceable bomber module adapted for a bomber aircraft mission.

7. The aircraft of claim 6, wherein the removably replaceable bomber module includes a bomb ejector.

8. The aircraft of claim 7, wherein the bomb ejector includes a rotary bomb ejector disposed toward an aft end of the aircraft body.

9. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising at least one mounting fixture configured to receive at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

10. The aircraft of claim 9, further comprising at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

11. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the aircraft body includes a blended wing body.

12. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the aircraft body includes a tube-and-wing aircraft body.

13. A reconfigurable aircraft comprising:

a pair of wings;

an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body, the at least one bay being configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions;

a first removably replaceable module received in the interior of the aircraft, the first removably replaceable module being adapted for a transport aircraft mission; and

a second removably replaceable module received in the interior of the aircraft, the second removably replaceable module being adapted for a tanker aircraft mission, the second removably replaceable module including a remote aerial refueling operator station.

14. The aircraft of claim 13, wherein the first removably replaceable module includes at least one cargo pallet.

15. The aircraft of claim 13, wherein the first removably replaceable module includes palletized seating.

16. The aircraft of claim 13, further comprising a roll-on/roll-off ramp.

17. The aircraft of claim 13, further comprising at least one mounting fixture configured to receive at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

18. The aircraft of claim 17, further comprising at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

19. The aircraft of claim 13, wherein the aircraft body includes a blended wing body.

20. The aircraft of claim 13, wherein the aircraft body includes a tube-and-wing aircraft body.

21. A reconfigurable aircraft comprising:

a pair of wings;

an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body, the at least one bay being configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions;

a removably replaceable transport module disposed within the bay that configures the aircraft for a transport aircraft mission;

a removably replaceable tanker module disposed within the bay that configures the aircraft for a tanker aircraft mission; and

a removably replaceable bomber module disposed within the bay that configures the aircraft for a bomber aircraft mission.

22. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the removably replaceable transport module includes at least one cargo pallet.

23. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the removably replaceable transport module includes palletized seating.

24. The aircraft of claim 21, further comprising a roll-on/roll-off ramp.

25. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the removably replaceable tanker module includes a remote aerial refueling operator station.

26. The aircraft of claim 25, further comprising at least one mounting fixture configured to receive at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

27. The aircraft of claim 25, further comprising at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

28. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the removably replaceable bomber module includes a bomb ejector.

29. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the bomb ejector includes a rotary bomb ejector disposed toward an aft end of the aircraft body.

30. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the aircraft body includes a blended wing body.

31. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the aircraft body includes a tube-and-wing aircraft body.

32. A reconfigurable aircraft comprising:

a pair of wings;

an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body, the at least one bay including a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions, the plurality of removably replaceable modules including a removably replaceable tanker module adapted for a tanker aircraft mission, the removably replaceable tanker module including a remote aerial refueling operator station;

a cargo door disposed in a forward portion of the aircraft body;

a plurality of rollers provided in a deck of the aircraft body; and

at least one attachment point adapted to mount a mounting fixture that is configured to receive at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

33. The aircraft of claim 32, wherein the plurality of removably replaceable modules further includes a removably replaceable cargo module adapted for a transport aircraft mission.

34. The aircraft of claim 33, wherein the removably replaceable cargo module includes at least one cargo pallet.

35. The aircraft of claim 33, wherein the removably replaceable cargo module includes palletized seating.

36. The aircraft of claim 33, further comprising a roll-on/roll-off ramp.

37. The aircraft of claim 32, wherein the plurality of removably replaceable modules further includes a removably replaceable bomber module adapted for a bomber aircraft mission.

38. The aircraft of claim 37, wherein the removably replaceable bomber module includes a bomb ejector.

39. The aircraft of claim 38, wherein the bomb ejector includes a rotary bomb ejector disposed toward an aft end of the aircraft body.

40. The aircraft of claim 32, further comprising at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

41. The aircraft of claim 32, wherein the aircraft body includes a blended wing body.

42. The aircraft of claim 32, wherein the aircraft body includes a tube-and-wing aircraft body.

43. A reconfigurable aircraft comprising:

a pair of wings;

an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body, the at least one bay being configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions;

a cargo door disposed in a forward portion of the aircraft body;

a plurality of rollers provided in a deck of the aircraft body;

at least one attachment point that is adapted to mount a mounting fixture that is configured to receive at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue,

a first removably replaceable module received in the interior of the aircraft, the first removably replaceable module being adapted for a transport aircraft mission; and

a second removably replaceable module received in the interior of the aircraft, the second removably replaceable module being adapted for a tanker aircraft mission, the second removably replaceable module including a remote aerial refueling operator station.

44. The aircraft of claim 43, wherein the first removably replaceable module includes at least one cargo pallet.

45. The aircraft of claim 43, wherein the first removably replaceable module includes palletized seating.

46. The aircraft of claim 43, further comprising a roll-on/roll-off ramp.

47. The aircraft of claim 43, further comprising at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

48. The aircraft of claim 43, wherein the aircraft body includes a blended wing body.

49. The aircraft of claim 43, wherein the aircraft body includes a tube-and-wing aircraft body.

50. A reconfigurable aircraft comprising:

a pair of wings;

an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body, the at least one bay being configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions;

a cargo door disposed in a forward portion of the aircraft body;

a plurality of rollers provided in a deck of the aircraft body;

at least one mounting fixture configured to receive at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue;

a removably replaceable transport module disposed within the bay that configures the aircraft for a transport aircraft mission;

a removably replaceable tanker module disposed within the bay that configures the aircraft for a tanker aircraft mission; and

a removably replaceable bomber module disposed within the bay that configures the aircraft for a bomber aircraft mission.

51. The aircraft of claim 50, wherein the removably replaceable transport module includes at least one cargo pallet.

52. The aircraft of claim 50, wherein the removably replaceable transport module includes palletized seating.

53. The aircraft of claim 50, further comprising a roll-on/roll-off ramp.

54. The aircraft of claim 50, wherein the removably replaceable tanker module includes a remote aerial refueling operator station.

55. The aircraft of claim 54, further comprising at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

56. The aircraft of claim 50, wherein the removably replaceable bomber module includes a bomb ejector.

57. The aircraft of claim 56, wherein the bomb ejector includes a rotary bomb ejector disposed toward an aft end of the aircraft body.

58. The aircraft of claim 50, wherein the aircraft body includes a blended wing body.

59. The aircraft of claim 50, wherein the aircraft body includes a tube-and-wing aircraft body.

60. A reconfigurable aircraft comprising:

a pair of wings;

an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body, the at least one bay being configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions;

a plurality of antennas;

a first removably replaceable module received in the interior of the aircraft, the first removably replaceable module coupled in signal communication with the plurality of antennas, the first removably replaceable module being adapted for an ISR aircraft mission and including at least one command and control station; and

a second removably replaceable module received in the interior of the aircraft, the second removably replaceable module being adapted for a bomber aircraft mission.

61. The aircraft of claim 60, wherein the second removably replaceable module includes a bomb ejector.

62. The aircraft of claim 61, wherein the bomb ejector includes a rotary bomb ejector disposed toward an aft end of the aircraft body.

63. The aircraft of claim 60, wherein the aircraft body includes a blended wing body.

64. The aircraft of claim 60, wherein the aircraft body includes a tube-and-wing aircraft body.

65. The aircraft of claim 60, wherein the antennas include phased array antennas.

66. A method of configuring an aircraft for a mission, the method comprising:

defining in an interior of an aircraft body at least one bay being configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions;

disposing within the at least one bay a removably replaceable transport module that configures the aircraft for a transport aircraft mission

disposing within a second bay a removably replaceable tanker module that configures the aircraft for a tanker aircraft mission; and

disposing within a third bay a third removably replaceable module adapted for a bomber aircraft mission.

67. A reconfigurable aircraft comprising:

a pair of wings;

an aircraft body having a single fuselage with an interior that defines at least one bay the at least one bay being configured to accept within the single fuselage a plurality of removably replaceable modules that reconfigure the aircraft among a plurality of missions including at least one of a transport aircraft mission, a tanker aircraft mission, and a bomber aircraft mission;

a cargo door disposed in the single fuselage;

at least one air refueling attachment point coupled to at least one fuel storage volume and couplable to a mounting fixture that is configured to receive at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue; and

at least one ordnance ejection port defined in the single fuselage and configured to eject ordnance from the single fuselage, the at least one ordnance ejection port being couplable to one of the plurality of removably replaceable modules within the single fuselage that configures the aircraft for a bomber aircraft mission.

68. The aircraft of claim 67, further comprising at least one of a plurality of rollers provided in a deck of the aircraft body and a roll-on/roll-off ramp.

69. The aircraft of claim 67, wherein the plurality of removably replaceable modules includes at least one of palletized seating and at least one cargo pallet.

70. The aircraft of claim 67, wherein the plurality of removably replaceable modules includes a remote aerial refueling operator station.

71. The aircraft of claim 67, further comprising at least one mounting fixture configured to receive at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

72. The aircraft of claim 71, further comprising at least one of an air refueling boom and an air refueling hose and drogue.

73. The aircraft of claim 67, wherein the wherein the plurality of removably replaceable modules includes a bomb ejector.

74. The aircraft of claim 67, wherein the aircraft body includes a blended wing body.

75. The aircraft of claim 67, wherein the aircraft body includes a tube-and-wing aircraft body.