Attitude control of an aircraft in a ditching condition

摘要

Configurations provide rapid adjustment to an aircraft attitude in the water upon an emergency water landing. In one configuration, an aircraft fuselage (202; 402) has a forward compartment (204; 404) that includes a water intake (206; 406) and an air vent (208; 410). The water intake (206; 406) is located below an expected waterline (102) upon ditching the aircraft (100) in water and transports a flow of water to the forward compartment (204; 404) at a designed flow rate. The air vent (208; 410) is positioned at a height in the forward compartment (204; 404) and allows a desired volume of water to fill the forward compartment (204; 404) and adjust an attitude of the aircraft (100) within a time period. (Fig. 2)