Lockheed Martin Corporation

Joseph M Wurts

John Matthew Reynolds

Eric D Knutson

Eric P Young

Stephen G Justice

Danny Gast

Mathew Curran

Grant E Carichner

Steven P Ericson

Scott D Van Weelden

John A Simmons

John T Reynolds

Larry Lipera

Paul H Nicholas

Michael H Pohlig

A catapult for launching an aircraft is disclosed including a rail assembly having first and second ends. A support structure is provided for supporting the rail assembly above the ground at various upward angles. A container having an open end is releasably mounted on the first end of the rail assembly, the container for mounting the aircraft therein with a portion of the front end of the aircraft extending out of the open end. A device is provided for extracting the aircraft from the container and moving it from the first end to the second end of the rail assembly and release it when reaching the second end.

Miniature aircraft catapult

A parachute system for a miniature aircraft having a storable parachute mounted on an upper surface of the aircraft. The system includes a canopy having a stored condition and an expanded condition. A plurality of suspension lines have first ends connected to the periphery of the canopy and second ends connected to an elastic member. First and second risers are connected by their first ends to the upper surface of the aircraft between the front end and center of gravity on either side of the longitudinal axis and by their second ends to the elastic member. A restraint system releasably restrains the parachute in the stored condition on the top surface of the aircraft; and a release system coupled to the restraint system releases the parachute upon command such that aerodynamic forces will cause the parachute to open.

Parachute assembly for a miniature aircraft

A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is disclosed that includes a support structure having a motor mounted vertically thereto, with the motor having a propeller for rotation in a horizontal plane. A power supply for the motor is mounted to the support structure below the motor and electrical coupled thereto. A plurality of fins are attached by their first end to the power and extending radially outward therefrom. Vertical posts have there first ends attached to the second end of the fins and extend upward to the plane of rotation of the propeller. A ring is mounted horizontally to the second ends of the plurality of vertical posts surrounding the propeller. The torque produced by the drag of fins as the aircraft rotates in the opposite direction reacting the torque of the propeller equal to the torque of the propeller necessary to achieve hover. The rotational inertia of aircraft is made equal to the rotational inertia of the propeller.

Miniature vertical takeoff and landing aircraft

A protective ballute for a payload launched from an airborne platform includes an elongated shroud member, gas delivery apparatus for filling the shroud member with a lighter-than-air gas to inflate the shroud member. A payload as ballast is provided at one end portion of the shroud member for rendering the ballute heavier than air. Flight control and guidance apparatus is carried by said shroud member for determining a flight path and attaining a predetermined target landing site. A mechanism carried by the shroud member releases the payload from the shroud member upon reaching the landing site while maintaining said shroud member in its inflated state. The shroud member then rises or 'floats' away from said landing site to another removed location, or if desired will self-destruct.

Air-dropped, precision-guided, payload delivery system

Toy aircraft

JASSM missile

The invention is an airborne vehicle. In detail, the invention includes a main body having a longitudinal, lateral and vertical axis. A pair of wings are pivotally mounted to the main body that are movable about an axis of rotation from a retracted position to an extended position external of the main body along the lateral axis. A linkage assembly for controlling the position of the wings is mounted within the vehicle that includes a guide assembly having an open ended slot aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof. First and second links have their first ends pivotally connected to the wings at a position offset from the axis of rotation of the wings, and the second ends thereof pivotally coupled to each other. A pin is rotatably coupled to the second ends of the first and second links and is movable from a first position within the slot wherein the first and second links are at an acute angle to each other to a second position external of the open end of the slot wherein the first and second links are rotated to a greater angular relationship. A spring is incorporated for urging the first and second links to the greater angular relationship. A latch is incorporated for securing the first and second links in the greater angular relationship after the pin exits the open end of the slot. An actuator is used to move the pin from the first position to the second position and, additionally, along the lateral axis when the pin is in the second position.

Airborne vehicle with wing extension and roll control

Unmanned aircraft

Growing community of inventors

Valencia, CA, United States of America

Joseph M Wurts