Semi-buoyant aircraft

An aircraft structure including a fuselage shaped to provide substantial aerodynamic lift in an airstream with a minimum of aerodynamic drag,

• the fuselage including a rigid external framework formed by a web of tension members longitudinally extending about the fuselage in a relatively helical pattern,
• the fuselage also including a central longitudinal channel extending internally of said framework along the lower portion of the fuselage substantially the entire length thereof for reinforcing the fuselage and defining an area for receiving cargo,
• the fuselage further including a bouyant envelope contained within the rigid external framework and pressurized to bear on and reinforce the external framework, the bouyant envelope being of a volume defined by the rigid external framework, the pressure of the gas enclosed in the envelope increasing as the air pressure about the aircraft decreases to exert a force upon and further reinforce the rigid external framework as the aircraft rises to operational altitudes and speeds,
• a pair of wings attached to the fuselage in an opposed relationship and shaped to provide substantial aerodynamic lift in an airstream with a minimum of aerodynamic drag, the aerodynamic lift provided by the fuselage and the wings, together with the bouyancy provided by the bouyant envelope, being sufficient to maintain the aircraft airborne when in forward motion in an airstream,
• power means to impart forward motion to the aircraft, and
• sets of landing gear affixed to the fuselage at the forward, central and rearward portions of the aircraft, the landing gear sets being independently retractable and steerable permitting one end set of landing gear to be at least partially retracted and the aircraft turned on the central and other end set of landing gear when at rest turned on the central and other end set of landing gear when at rest upon the ground.