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A composite aircraft comprising an aerostat containing a lighter than air gas, and a rotor assembly mounted to and below the aerostat, via an axle. The aerostat provides buoyancy to lift the weight of the aircraft plus a significant portion of the payload connected to the aircraft. The rotor assembl

A composite aircraft comprising an aerostat containing a lighter than air gas, and a rotor assembly mounted to and below the aerostat, via an axle. The aerostat provides buoyancy to lift the weight of the aircraft plus a significant portion of the payload connected to the aircraft. The rotor assembly statically connects to the aerostat in all aspects except rotationally about the axle, and provides the remaining lift and propulsion to the aircraft and payload. The rotor assembly includes a hub, a plurality of blades, a plurality of winglets, and engine-powered propellers that provide rotational thrust to the rotor assembly. The plurality of blades and winglets have adjustable angles of attack to generate lift and forward propulsion to the aircraft. The blades mount radially from the axle and horizontally from an outboard end of the hub. The winglets mount above and below each blade. The engine-powered propellers mount to the outboard end of the hub. A center mast passes through the poles of the aerostat, mounts the aerostat, and supports the blades through cables. A control cab connects below the rotor assembly and controls the operation of the components of the aircraft. A plurality of sling cables connect the blades to the payload. The aircraft can lift payloads weighing up to 1,000,000 pounds, while moving at slow to moderate forward speeds.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A composite aircraft comprising:an aerostat containing a lighter than air gas for lifting the aircraft and a payload attached to the aircraft;a rotor assembly mounted below and to the aerostat by an axle, the rotor assembly being statically mounted to the aerostat in all

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A composite aircraft comprising:an aerostat containing a lighter than air gas for lifting the aircraft and a payload attached to the aircraft;a rotor assembly mounted below and to the aerostat by an axle, the rotor assembly being statically mounted to the aerostat in all aspects except rotationally about the axle, the rotor assembly including a hub, a plurality of blades, a plurality of winglets, and means for generating rotational thrust, wherein the plurality of blades and winglets have adjustable angles of attack to generate lift and forward propulsion to the aircraft, the plurality of blades are mounted radially from the axle and horizontally from an outboard end of the hub, the plurality of winglets are mounted above and below each blade, and the rotational thrust generating means is mounted outboard of the hub;a mast mounted collinearly to the axle and extending through and above the aerostat to allow cables to support the rotor assembly and to transfer negative lift through the cables from the blades to the aerostat;a control cab mounted to the hub and providing a control system for the plurality of blades, the plurality of winglets, and the rotational thrust generating means; anda plurality of sling cables connecting the plurality of blades to the payload, forming a load sling below the axle.