| 摘要 |
<p>This invention relates to a composite aircraft comprising a conventional aircraft (2) and a carrier aircraft (4) connected together during flight as a composite aircraft by way of a connector (6). The carrier aircraft has a vertical takeoff and/or landing capability and the conventional aircraft is provided with a directable propulsion nozzle so that during operations as a composite aircraft lift is shared by components of lift from the propulsion systems of both aircraft. Therefore, by connecting itself to the carrier aircraft, the conventional aircraft may takeoff and/or land vertically as the case may be, but without the requirement for a vertical takeoff and/or landing capability of its own and all the weight penalties associated therewith. Once the desired vertical takeoff manoeuvre has been completed by the composite aircraft the two aircraft may then be disconnected and the conventional aircraft may then continue its flight, while the carrier aircraft 4 may return to base and then carry out another vertical takeoff for another conventional aircraft, or it may, in an in-flight refuelling like operation, mate with a conventional aircraft, and land vertically as a composite aircraft. <IMAGE></p> |
