Aircraft having VTOL, translational and traverse flight

A powered-lift aircraft capable of vertical take-off and vertical landing, hovering and translational and traverse flight, comprising:

• a generally cylindrical wing having a cylindrical cavity and an inner surface, the cylindrical wing defining a central open space area;
• one or more propulsion impeller rings rotatably supported within the cylindrical cavity of the generally cylindrical wing;
• a cockpit or payload enclosure disposed within a portion of the central open space area and pivotally mounted to and surrounded by the generally cylindrical wing;
• an impeller ring drive system that is supported within the generally cylindrical wing or the cockpit or payload enclosure;
• a plurality of impeller blades that are pivotally or rotatably connected to at least one of the one or more propulsion impeller rings for variable pitch control, the plurality of impeller blades extending radially inward from the pivot connection to the impeller rings such that an outer portion of the plurality of impeller blades are positioned within the central open space area defined by the generally cylindrical wings and generally pointing toward the cockpit or payload enclosure;
• an asymmetric impeller blade pitch control system operatively connected to the impeller blades to allow for individual and differential control of the impeller blades by the blade pitch control system to cause the one or more propulsion impeller rings to provide asymmetrical thrust;
• and
• an attitude control system configured to maintain a longitudinal axis for the cockpit or payload enclosure in a generally constant level attitude relative to earth's surface and independent of an attitude of the generally cylindrical wing;
• wherein during vertical takeoff of the aircraft the one or more propulsion impeller rings rotate at rotational speeds that are sufficient to provide enough thrust force to overcome a weight amount of the aircraft;
• wherein the cylindrical wing is axially vertically oriented during vertical flight, hovering and vertical landing of the aircraft;
• wherein the cylindrical wing is axially horizontally oriented during level flight of the aircraft.