VTOL aircraft with forward-swept fixed wing
A fixed-wing VTOL aircraft features a forward-swept wing configuration coupled with a tripod arrangement of the engines (two forward, one rear), a forward-swept empennage or tail assembly, and a forward canard. The engines and wings/empennage are located relative to each other such that the engine outlet nozzles, which pivot downwardly to provide lift-off thrust, are minimally covered by the wings/empennage, if at all. The wings and empennage may include lifting fans to supplement lift and provide pitch and/or roll control.
1. A fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing aircraft, comprising:
a fuselage;
forward-swept main wings extending from said fuselage;
an empennage at a rear portion of said fuselage, wherein said empennage comprises forward swept elevons;
thrust-providing engines configured to selectively direct their thrust downwardly for vertical take-off and landing of said aircraft and rearwardly for forward flight of said aircraft;
wherein said aircraft has three engines, two of said engines being located at a forward location with one on either side of said fuselage and the third of said engines being located at a rear portion of said fuselage, whereby said engines create a tripod of thrust when their thrust is directed downwardly.
2. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein said main wings and said forward engines are co-located with respect to each other such that said main wings substantially do not overlie outlet nozzles of said forward engines.
3. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein said main wings have a downward-sloping, anhedral configuration.
4. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein said elevons are arranged in a V-configuration and said empennage does not have a vertical stabilizer.
5. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein forward portions of roots of said elevons overlie rearward portions of roots of said main wings.
6. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein said elevons and said third, rearward engine are co-located with respect to each other such that said elevons substantially do not overlie an outlet nozzle of said rearward engine.
7. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising canards at a forward, nose portion of the aircraft.
8. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising fans in said wings, said fans being configured to provide thrust upwardly and downwardly.
9. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising fans in said empennage, said fans being configured to provide thrust upwardly and downwardly.