VERTICAL AND SHORT TAKEOFF AND LANDING (VSTOL) AIRCRAFT

摘要

Vertical short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) aircraft include primary airfoils extending outwardly from a forward region of the aircraft fuselage, and secondary empennage airfoils extending outwardly from an aft region of the aircraft fuselage so as to be separated from the forward primary airfoils and thereby define a space therebetween which accommodates non-cyclic controllable propellers operably driven by a respective engine of a propulsion unit. The propulsion units are mounted for pivotal movement within the defined space between the primary airfoil and the secondary empenage airfoils so as to achieve a first operational position wherein the thrust line of the propellers is orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage and a second operational position wherein the thrust line of the propellers is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The propulsion units may be mounted aft of the aircraft center of gravity (CG).