Personal Air Vehicle Research Project, Phase I

The innovation is a low aspect ratio all-lifting configuration for personal air vehicles. This configuration uses an architecture fundamentally different from conventional aircraft to achieve large reductions in cost and improvements in safety. The concept features an integrated all-lifting body that performs the functions of the wing, tail and fuselage of a conventional light airplane with a single, simple structure. The integrated lifting body has an aspect ratio between approximately 1.0 and 2.5, and is deep enough to contain the crew and payload without a conventional fuselage. A further innovation is the use of a faceted shape composed of flat panels. The faceting greatly simplifies the manufacture of the major parts of the airframe, further reducing cost. More »