Long endurance aircraft having morphing wing configured to change shape
OwnerJerome Pearson, Gerald M. Gregorek +1inventors
InventorsJerome Pearson, Gerald M. Gregorek, Harry B. Wykes
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Abstract
A long endurance powered aircraft includes a central spar, a propeller coupled to the central spar, and a wing coupled to the central spar. The wing includes a first spar and an opposing second spar. Leading ends of the first and second spars are coupled to the central spar and trailing ends of the first and second spars selectively diverge from the central spar to define a morphing wing configured change shape to optimize aircraft flight parameters in response to changes in at least one flight condition.
Claims31
A long endurance powered aircraft comprising:
- a central spar;
- a propeller coupled to the central spar;
- and
- a wing coupled to the central spar, the wing including a first spar and an opposing second spar;
- wherein leading ends of the first and second spars are coupled to the central spar and trailing ends of the first and second spars selectively diverge from the central spar to define a morphing wing configured change shape to optimize aircraft flight parameters in response to changes in at least one flight condition.
A long endurance powered aircraft comprising:
- a central spar;
- a propeller coupled to the central spar;
- and
- a primary wing coupled to the central spar;
- wherein the primary wing is configured to retract onto the central spar in a stowed state and selectively extend from the central spar in a deployed state.
A method of operating a long endurance powered aircraft, the method comprising:
- deploying an aircraft including a central spar, a propeller coupled to the central spar, and a wing stowed against the central spar, the wing including a wing spar coupled at a leading end to the central spar;
- and
- diverging a trailing end of the wing spar away from the central spar to selectively morph the wing in response to changes in at least one flight condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.