IP Library Granted Patent US 12,649,565
Granted Patent B2
US 12,649,565 · App. 19/028,784 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Aircraft system for reduced observer visibility

Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher (Thousand Oaks, CA); Steven Bradley Chambers (Simi Valley, CA); Pavil Belik (Simi Valley, CA); Austin Craig Gunder (Red Lion, PA); John Peter Zwaan (Simi Valley, CA)
Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
B64C5/02B64C3/10B64C5/06B64C9/00B64C39/024B64C39/12B64U10/25B64U20/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,649,565
App. No.
19/028,784
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft apparatus is disclosed that has a fuselage; and a wing coupled to the fuselage, where the wing comprises a port outboard wing section and a starboard outboard wing section; where each of the port outboard wing section and the starboard outboard wing section comprise at least one of: curved leading edges of varying radii and curved trailing edges of varying radii.

Claims (26)

1 . An aircraft apparatus, comprising:

a fuselage boom having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a wing coupled to the fuselage boom, wherein the wing comprises a port outboard wing section and a starboard outboard wing section;

wherein each of the port outboard wing section and the starboard outboard wing section comprise at least one of: curved leading edges of varying radii and curved trailing edges of varying radii; and

wherein the curved leading edges of varying radii and the curved trailing edges of varying radii create a low visual signature organic shape, and wherein the low visual signature organic shape comprises a line of varying radii.

2 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved leading edges of varying radii and the curved trailing edges of varying radii closely more closely mimic a flying animal as compared to a typical wing configuration.

3 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved leading edges of varying radii and the curved trailing edges of varying radii comprise a combination of varying radii portions and straight portions.

4 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved leading edges of varying radii and the curved trailing edges of varying radii comprise varying radii portions and portions having a constant radii path.

5 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fuselage boom is tubular, and wherein the fuselage boom has a diameter that is sufficiently small to make ground observation of the tail rod difficult while the aircraft system is at altitude.

6 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , each of the port outboard wing section and the starboard outboard wing section are formed to significantly reduce the likelihood of reflecting or otherwise directing sunlight to a ground observer.

7 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fuselage boom has a non-tubular cross-section.

8 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the fuselage boom has a oval cross-section.

9 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the non-tubular cross-section of the fuselage boom is oriented such that a narrow portion of the cross-section is substantially vertical so as to further reduce visibility to an observer located on the ground.

10 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved leading edges of varying radii and the curved trailing edges of varying radii reduce recognition of the aircraft apparatus from the ground as compared to a typical linear aircraft sweep line.

11 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a transparent stabilizer coupled to the distal end of the fuselage boom.

12 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the visibility of the transparent stabilizer is reduced as observed by a ground observer while the aircraft apparatus is at altitude.

13 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the transparent stabilizer is a flat plate airfoil, and wherein the flat plate airfoil minimizes reflections of the sun to a ground location as observed by a ground observer while the aircraft apparatus is at altitude.

14 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the transparent stabilizer is rotatably coupled to the distal end of the fuselage boom.

15 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the starboard outboard wing section comprises a transparent material.

16 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the port outboard wing section comprises a transparent material.

17 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the starboard outboard wing section comprises transparent materials.

18 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the port outboard wing section comprises transparent materials.

19 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the starboard outboard wing section is detachably coupled to the aircraft apparatus, and wherein the port outboard wing section is detachably coupled to the aircraft apparatus.

20 . The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a stabilizer coupled to the distal end of the fuselage boom, wherein the stabilizer is a transparent stabilizer, and wherein the transparent stabilizer reduces an observer visibility of said aircraft apparatus in an observation area during a flight of said aircraft apparatus.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2025
From: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 071024/0525 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2025
From: FISHER, CHRISTOPHER EUGENE; CHAMBERS, STEVEN BRADLEY; BELIK, PAVIL; GUNDER, AUSTIN CRAIG; ZWAAN, JOHN PETER
To: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069916/0610 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 18740913 · Jun 12, 2024
Continuation 18199770 · May 19, 2023
Continuation 16265314 · Feb 1, 2019
Continuation 15870467 · Jan 12, 2018
Continuation 14184542 · Feb 19, 2014
Continuation PCTUS2012051176 · Aug 16, 2012
Provisional Application 61525655 · Aug 19, 2011
Related Publication 20250162707A1 · May 22, 2025
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