Aeronautics and astronautics – Composite aircraft
Patent
1998-08-12
2000-07-11
Eldred, J. Woodrow
Aeronautics and astronautics
Composite aircraft
244 49, B64C 3702
Patent
active
060860146
ABSTRACT:
A roadable aircraft includes three symmetrically lateral flight surfaces, comprising a forward main wing generally centrally located relative to the fuselage or body, a rearwardly located stabilizing surface acting as an empennage support, and a rear stabilizer and elevator located at the rearward end of the empennage tail booms. The wheel or landing gear configuration is of a rhomboid pattern, with forward and rearward main wheels along the centerline of the craft, and left and right outboard wheels. The outboard wheels extend and retract individually to a limited degree to compensate for centrifugal forces in ground operations, and together in coordination with the main wheels for flight operations. The powerplant drives the rearward main wheel from one end of its output shaft, and the propeller from the opposite end of the output shaft. The flight surfaces are foldable alongside and over the top of the rear portion of the craft for ground operations, or may be quickly and temporarily removed for ground operations as desired. Operator controls to facilitate both surface and flight operations are configured for operator convenience and rapid conversion between surface and flight operation configurations. Additional safety and convenience features, such as a starter lockout to assure that all flight surfaces and controls are properly connected, are also provided. The craft is quickly and easily convertible from flight configuration to road configuration, and back, to enable the operator thereof to use the craft as desired in either environment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4627585 (1986-12-01), Einstein
patent: 4986493 (1991-01-01), Sarch
Eldred J. Woodrow
Litman Richard C.
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