Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Corporation

Kevin John Renshaw

A device for controlling an aircraft during non-flying operations has a retractable tiller that extends with the nose landing gear of the aircraft. Ground crew use the control device to maneuver the aircraft for various ground-based operations. The tiller provides left and right directional input to the steering of the nose wheel. The tiller also provides throttle and brake controls, such as a twist-grip handle on the tiller. The throttle and brake controls are spring-loaded to an engine idle and braked position. Separate brakes also may be provided for additional braking control. The control device also includes various auxiliary controls for additional operations such as wing fold, tail hook extension and retraction, launch bar extension and retraction, etc. Other functions including engine start, engine shutdown, a vehicle system built in test and other functions and tests also may be provided on the control device.

System, method and apparatus for ground-based manipulation and control of aerial vehicle during non-flying operations

A mechanism and methods for directing the flow of exhaust gases associated with a V/STOL aircraft. A pair of constant area nozzles are associated with a plenum chamber that receives and contains exhaust gases. The nozzles are independently rotatable within circular exhaust openings in the plenum chamber to direct, or vector, exhaust exiting from the plenum chamber in preselected directions such as vertically downward or directions forward or aft of the vertical plane.

Mechanism for vectoring exhaust flow

An apparatus and method for measuring airflow past an aircraft by extending a probe (14) from the aircraft into the airflow with a retraction-extension mechanism (20) when a measurement is desired, and retracting the probe (14) when a measurement is not desired. In a low observable aircraft (12), the probe (14) can extend to measure angle of sideslip for flight in a slow speed regime, such as is experienced in vertical take-offs and landings, and can retract during normal wing borne flight to reduce the aircraft's radar signature.

Apparatus and method for measuring the side slip of a low observable

A variable area exhaust nozzle 26 is provided. The variable area exhaust nozzle 26 includes a nozzle opening 30 and a plurality of nozzle flaps 38 and 40. The nozzle opening 30 has a cylindrical area and a circumference. The plurality of nozzle flaps 38 and 40 are supported about the circumference of the nozzle opening 30. The nozzle flaps 38 and 40 have an axis of rotation 52. The nozzle flaps 38 and 40 are positioned to rotate into the nozzle opening 30 to decrease the cylindrical area of the nozzle opening 30 and to rotate out of the nozzle opening 30 to increase the cylindrical area of the nozzle opening 30. The nozzle flaps 38 and 40 rotate to vary the cylindrical area of the nozzle opening 30 and to reduce the forces required to rotate the nozzle flaps 38 and 40.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Kevin John Renshaw