A VTOL aircraft (100) comprises fixed wings (119A, 119B, 124A, 124B) and a rotor blade system (165A, 165B) for providing lift in active and passive modes thereof. Operation of the rotor blade system may be switched between the active mode in which the rotor blade system is driven by a power system of the aircraft and the passive mode in which the rotor blade system is not driven by the power system, the rotor blade system being configurable to provide lift in the passive mode during forward flight of the aircraft. The rotor blade system provides lift in the passive mode, allowing the fixed wings to be shorter than in the case where the rotor system provides lift during vertical take-off and landing but otherwise has no function, thus providing aircraft which is lighter, more compact and more efficient than similar aircraft of the prior art.
VTOL Aircraft
2020-01-22
Patent
Electronic Resource
English