Aircraft with Selectively Attachable Passenger Pod Assembly
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsJohn Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some embodiments, an aircraft includes a flying frame having an airframe, a propulsion system attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode. A pod assembly is selectively attachable to the flying frame such that the flying frame is rotatable about the pod assembly wherein, the pod assembly remains in a generally horizontal attitude during vertical takeoff and landing, forward flight and transitions therebetween.
Claims20
An aircraft comprising:
- a flying frame including an airframe, a propulsion system attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system;
- and
- a pod assembly selectively attachable to the flying frame,
- wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode;
- and
- wherein, the flying frame is rotatable about the pod assembly such that the pod assembly remains in a generally horizontal attitude during vertical takeoff and landing, forward flight and transitions therebetween.
A method of operating an aircraft comprising:
- providing a flying frame including an airframe, a propulsion system attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system;
- selectively attaching the flying frame to a pod assembly;
- lifting the pod assembly into the air in a vertical takeoff and landing mode of the aircraft with the pod assembly in a generally horizontal attitude;
- transitioning the aircraft between the vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode by rotating the flying frame relative to the pod assembly while maintaining the pod assembly in the generally horizontal attitude;
- and
- transporting the pod assembly in the forward flight mode of the aircraft with the pod assembly in the generally horizontal attitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.