Rotor--aerostat composite aircraft

Abstract

A composite aircraft comprising an aerostat containing a lighter than air gas, and a rotor assembly mounted to and below the aerostat, via an axle. The aerostat provides buoyancy to lift the weight of the aircraft plus a significant portion of the payload connected to the aircraft. The rotor assembly statically connects to the aerostat in all aspects except rotationally about the axle, and provides the remaining lift and propulsion to the aircraft and payload. The rotor assembly includes a hub, a plurality of blades, a plurality of winglets, and engine-powered propellers that provide rotational thrust to the rotor assembly. The plurality of blades and winglets have adjustable angles of attack to generate lift and forward propulsion to the aircraft. The blades mount radially from the axle and horizontally from an outboard end of the hub. The winglets mount above and below each blade. The engine-powered propellers mount to the outboard end of the hub. A center mast passes through the poles of the aerostat, mounts the aerostat, and supports the blades through cables. A control cab connects below the rotor assembly and controls the operation of the components of the aircraft. A plurality of sling cables connect the blades to the payload. The aircraft can lift payloads weighing up to 1,000,000 pounds, while moving at slow to moderate forward speeds.