Aircraft system for reduced observer visibility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377955-B2
Application number	US-202418740913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2024
Priority date	Aug 19, 2011
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

An aircraft apparatus is disclosed that has a fuselage boom having proximal and distal ends, a wing coupled to a proximal end of the fuselage boom and at least one transparent stabilizer coupled to a distal end of the fuselage boom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft apparatus, comprising:
a fuselage;
a wing coupled to the fuselage, wherein the wing comprises a port outboard wing section and a starboard outboard wing section; and
a servo horn slidably coupled to a stabilizer to slidably receive and detachably couple a servo arm to the stabilizer;
wherein each of the port outboard wing section and the starboard outboard wing section comprise at least one of: curved leading edges of varying radii and curved trailing edges of varying radii.

2. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is coupled to the fuselage.

3. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a servo having the servo arm.

4. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the fuselage is sufficiently small to make ground observation of the tail rod difficult.

5. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved leading edges of varying radii and the curved trailing edges of varying radii provide the port outboard wing section and the starboard outboard wing section a more organic look than would otherwise exist with a typical wing configuration.

6. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved leading edges of varying radii and the curved trailing edges of varying radii provide the port outboard wing section and the starboard outboard wing section a low visual signature shape.

7. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved leading edges of varying radii and the curved trailing edges of varying radii closely mimic a bird.

8. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transparent stabilizer coupled to the fuselage.

9. The aircraft apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the visibility of the transparent stabilizer is reduced.

10. The aircraft apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the transparent stabilizer is a flat plate airfoil, and wherein the flat plate airfoil minimizes reflections of the sun to a ground location.

11. The aircraft apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the transparent stabilizer is rotatably coupled to the fuselage.

12. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the starboard outboard wing section comprises a transparent material.

13. The aircraft apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the port outboard wing section comprises a transparent material.

14. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the starboard outboard wing section comprises transparent materials.

15. The aircraft apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the port outboard wing section comprises transparent materials.

16. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the starboard outboard wing section is detachably coupled to the aircraft apparatus, and wherein the port outboard wing section is detachably coupled to the aircraft apparatus.

17. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is a transparent stabilizer.

18. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer comprises a flat- plate airfoil.

19. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer consists of clear polycarbonate plastic.

20. The aircraft apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent stabilizer is a horizontal stabilizer, and further comprising:
a vertical stabilizer positioned proximate to said horizontal stabilizer;
a rigid pin extending from the fuselage; and
an attachment clip coupled to the vertical stabilizer, the attachment clip having a channel to receive the rigid pin;
wherein the vertical stabilizer is rotatable about the rigid pin.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Fisher Christopher Eugene
• Chambers Steven Bradley
• Belik Pavil
• Gunder Austin Craig
• Zwaan John Peter

Classifications

• B64C39/12

  Canard-type aircraft · CPC title

• B64C9/00

  Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders (trimming stabilising surfaces B64C5/10) · CPC title

• B64C5/06

  Fins (B64C5/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64C3/10 Primary

  Shape of wings · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title