公开(公告)号：CA3081733A1

公开(公告)日：2020-11-30

申请号：CA3081733

申请日：2020-05-29

Applicant: BELL TEXTRON INC

Inventor： MCCULLOUGH JOHN RICHARD ,  OLDROYD PAUL K ,  ISBELL GLENN EDWARD ,  HILL MATTHEW JOHN

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/02

Abstract: An aircraft is operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons extending therebetween forming a central region. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array and a flight control system are coupled to the airframe. A nose cone and an afterbody are each selectively coupled to the airframe. In a cargo delivery flight configuration, the nose cone and the afterbody are coupled to the airframe such that the nose cone and the afterbody each extend between the first and second wings and between first and second pylons to form a cargo enclosure with an aerodynamic outer shape. In a minimal drag flight configuration, the nose cone and the afterbody are not coupled to the airframe such that air passes through the central region during flight.

公开(公告)号：CA3081733C

公开(公告)日：2022-07-12

申请号：CA3081733

申请日：2020-05-29

Applicant: BELL TEXTRON INC

Inventor： MCCULLOUGH JOHN RICHARD ,  OLDROYD PAUL K ,  ISBELL GLENN EDWARD ,  HILL MATTHEW JOHN

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/02

Abstract: An aircraft is operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons extending therebetween forming a central region. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array and a flight control system are coupled to the airframe. A nose cone and an afterbody are each selectively coupled to the airframe. In a cargo delivery flight configuration, the nose cone and the afterbody are coupled to the airframe such that the nose cone and the afterbody each extend between the first and second wings and between first and second pylons to form a cargo enclosure with an aerodynamic outer shape. In a minimal drag flight configuration, the nose cone and the afterbody are not coupled to the airframe such that air passes through the central region during flight.