Aircraft with selectively attachable passenger pod assembly
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsJohn Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims18
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, the airframe including first and second wing members having at least two pylons extending therebetween;
- and
- a pod assembly selectively attachable to the flying frame,
- wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode in which the first and second wing members are substantially above the pod assembly and a forward flight mode in which the first wing member is below the pod assembly and the second wing member is above the pod assembly;
- 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, the airframe including first and second wing members having at least two pylons extending therebetween;
- 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, in which the first and second wing members are substantially above the pod assembly, and a forward flight mode, in which the first wing member is below the pod assembly and the second wing member is above the pod assembly, 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.