Aircraft having a controllable center of gravity and method of use
Aspects relate to an aircraft having a controllable center of gravity and methods of controlling the center of gravity. An exemplary aircraft having a controllable center of gravity includes a first tank configured to store a first portion of a ballast, a second tank configured to store a second portion of the ballast disposed substantially aft of the first tank, at least a pipe configured to provide fluidic communication between the first tank and the second tank, at least a pump configured to pump the ballast bidirectionally between the first tank and the second tank by way of the at least a pipe, and a controller in communication with the at least a pump and configured to control a ballast ratio of the first portion of the ballast relative the second portion of the ballast and affect an aircraft center of gravity.
1. An aircraft having a controllable center of gravity, the aircraft comprising:
a blended wing body;
a first tank located within the blended wing body and configured to store a first portion of a non-consumable ballast, wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises a slurry;
a second tank configured to store a second portion of the non-consumable ballast, located within the blended wing body and disposed substantially aft of the first tank;
at least a pipe configured to provide fluidic communication between the first tank and the second tank;
at least a pump configured to pump the non-consumable ballast bidirectionally between the first tank and the second tank by way of the at least a pipe; and
a controller in communication with the at least a pump and configured to control a longitudinal ballast ratio of the first portion of the non-consumable ballast relative the second portion of the non-consumable ballast and affect an aircraft center of gravity.
2. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises an effluent.
3. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises water.
4. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises a discrete ballast.
5. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the non-consumable ballast ratio as a function of inflight changes to the aircraft center of gravity.
6. The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the inflight changes to the aircraft center of gravity result from consumption of fuel.
7. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein a non-consumable ballast center of gravity affects the aircraft center of gravity by relocating the aircraft center of gravity to a favorable location within a permissible range.
8. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the non-consumable ballast center of gravity is located within a controllable range located ahead of the aircraft center of gravity.
9. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the non-consumable ballast center of gravity is located within a controllable range overlapping with the aircraft center of gravity.
10. A method of controlling a center of gravity of an aircraft, the method comprising:
storing, using a first tank located within a blended wing body of the aircraft, a first portion of a non-consumable ballast, wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises a slurry;
storing, using a second tank located within the blended wing body and disposed substantially aft of the first tank, a second portion of the non-consumable ballast;
providing, using at least a pipe, fluidic communication between the first tank and the second tank;
pumping, using at least a pump, the non-consumable ballast bidirectionally between the first tank and the second tank by way of the at least a pipe; and
controlling, using a controller in communication with the at least a pump, a longitudinal ballast ratio of the first portion of the non-consumable ballast relative the second portion of the non-consumable ballast and affect an aircraft center of gravity.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises a slurry.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises an effluent.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises water.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein a non-consumable ballast center of gravity affects the aircraft center of gravity by relocating the aircraft center of gravity to a favorable location within a permissible range.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the non-consumable ballast ratio as a function of inflight changes to the aircraft center of gravity.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inflight changes to the aircraft center of gravity result from consumption of fuel.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-consumable ballast comprises a discrete ballast.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the non-consumable ballast center of gravity is located within a controllable range located ahead of the aircraft center of gravity.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the non-consumable ballast center of gravity is located within a controllable range overlapping with the aircraft center of gravity.