The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
May. 07, 2024

Filed:

Feb. 12, 2021
Applicant:

Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US);

Inventors:

John R. Wittmaak, Jr., Newark, TX (US);

Russell C. Peters, Fort Worth, TX (US);

Nathaniel G. Lundie, Dallas, TX (US);

Assignee:

Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G05D 1/00 (2006.01); B64C 13/16 (2006.01); B64C 29/02 (2006.01); B64F 5/60 (2017.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 13/16 (2013.01); B64C 29/02 (2013.01); B64F 5/60 (2017.01);
Abstract

A method for reducing form drag on a tailsitter aircraft during at least one of takeoff or landing includes vertically taking off from the ground in a tailsitter orientation. The method also includes determining an actual pitch of the tail sitter aircraft in the tailsitter orientation. The method also includes determining a difference between the actual pitch and a predetermined pitch. The method also includes adjusting a heading of the tailsitter aircraft based on the difference to minimize a pitch angle to reduce the form drag on the tailsitter aircraft.


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