Aircraft capable of vertical and short take-off and landing

An aircraft comprising:

• an airframe having a forward end, and an aft end opposite said forward end;
• a power plant mounted on the airframe;
• at least two ducted ring fans mounted on the airframe between the forward end and the aft end for providing lift to the aircraft;
• a fan shaft connecting the power plant to at least one of said ducted ring fans to provide lift during use;
• at least two propellers mounted on the airframe for providing forward thrust to the aircraft, the propellers having an axis of rotation that extends approximately parallel with a longitudinal axis extending between the forward and aft ends of the airframe;
• a propeller shaft connecting the power plant to at one propeller for powering the propeller to provide thrust during use;
• wherein the airframe comprising a fuselage and at least two wings extending laterally from the fuselage;
• a nose is positioned at the forward end of the airframe;
• at least one of said two propellers is positioned on at least one of said wings;
• wherein said at least one of said ducted ring fans is a counter-rotatable lift fan, and at least one ducted ring fan is positioned on each of said wings;
• at least one of said ducted ring fans is disposed in the nose.