In-line staged horizontal takeoff vehicles and related methods

摘要

Aircraft systems that are optimized for multiple phases of flight are disclosed. In an aspect, an in-line staged aircraft is disclosed comprising a launch vehicle and a flight vehicle which are configured to join together along a common center line and form a single air foil in the joined configuration. The flight vehicle and the launch vehicle are separable in flight. In an aspect, the flight vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle configured for high-altitude, long-endurance operations.

主权项

1. An in-line staged aircraft optimized for multiple phases of flight, comprising:
(a) a launch vehicle, comprising:
(i) a launch vehicle front portion; and(ii) at least one launch vehicle wing; and (a) a flight vehicle, comprising:
(i) a flight vehicle rear portion configured to conform to the launch vehicle front portion; and(ii) at least one flight vehicle wing; wherein the launch vehicle and the flight vehicle are configured to join along a common center line and move between a joined configuration and a separated configuration; wherein the in-line staged aircraft is configured to takeoff horizontally in the joined configuration; and wherein in the joined configuration, the at least one launch vehicle wing is positioned adjacent to the at least one flight vehicle wing, the at least one launch vehicle wing and the at least one flight vehicle wing operating as a single airfoil.