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US 11,834,161 B1Granted
Electric aircraft with a tail skid and method of use
AssigneeBeta Air, LLC
InventorsTravis Gang, Louis Gauthier, James Laughlin, David Brunel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is an electric aircraft and a method for preventing a propulsor from contacting a ground surface of the electric aircraft. Electric aircraft includes a tail skid. The tail skid may include two portions. The tail skid may be configured to accommodate angles of approach for various takeoff and landing methods. Tail skid may be configured to prevent a propulsor from contacting the ground surface.
Claims16
An electric aircraft, the electric aircraft comprising:
- an aft end;
- a pusher propulsor configured to generate thrust in a forward direction, wherein the pusher propulsor is mounted to the aft end;
- and
- a tail skid attached to the bottom of the electric aircraft, wherein the tail skid is configured to prevent the pusher propulsor from contacting a ground surface, and wherein the tail skid further comprises a tip adhesively connected to the tail skid, wherein the tail skid comprises a strike sensor communicatively connected to a flight controller and disposed on the tip, wherein the strike sensor is configured to detect a contact between the tail skid and the ground surface, and wherein a length of the tail skid is modified as a function of an actuator.
1 more element
A method of a preventing propulsor from contacting a ground surface, the method comprising:
- receiving a pusher propulsor, wherein the propulsor is configured to generate thrust in a forward direction and is mounted to an aft end of an electric aircraft;
- and
- preventing, by a tail skid attached to the bottom of an electric aircraft, the propulsor from contacting a ground surface, and wherein the tail skid further comprises a tip adhesively connected to the tail skid, wherein the tail skid comprises a strike sensor communicatively connected to a flight controller and disposed on the tip, wherein the strike sensor is configured to detect a contact between the tail skid and the ground surface, and wherein a length of the tail skid is modified as a function of an actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.