The Mono Tiltrotor design achieves breakthrough aircraft performance by arranging conventional components and subsystems in an innovative configuration. The bulk of the aircraft structure is comprised of...
...the drive subsystem and tailboom assembly which uses mature components and technologies. The drive subsystem is a compact package of off-the-shelf engines and a conventional coaxial gearbox driving conventional proprotor blades with swashplate controls. A main fuel tank is integral to the drive system. The tailboom assembly has a typical airplane T-tail with stabilator.
The unique features of the Mono Tiltrotor configuration that set it apart from other rotorcraft are...
- hardpoints on the tailboom for mounting a fixed wing. While on any other helicopter configuration the placement of a fixed wing on the tailboom would be of little use, the Mono Tiltrotor configuration is designed to shift its weight aftward and underneath the tailboom in cruise which makes the placement of the fixed wing on the tailboom very useful.
- an actuator for positioning the gearbox about the tailboom. This actuator pulls the weight of the aircraft aftward and underneath the fixed wing when tilting the drive subsystem into a propeller mode of operation. When tilting the drive subsystem into a helicopter mode of operation, the actuator pushes the weight of the aircraft forward of the tailboom. These weight distributions are optimal for aerodynamic efficiency, stability, and control in their respective airplane and helicopter modes of flight.
- bearings on the gearbox for suspending cargo or mounting armaments. Weight and balance issues are neatly sidestepped by suspending any and all payloads about the aircraft's pitch axis. These bearings on the gearbox pass through the aircraft's center of gravity so that any load on the bearings has little effect on the aircraft's pitch stability and control.
These features result in an aircraft with the structural weight and vertical lifting capacity of a similarly sized helicopter, and the ability to cruise at the altitude and with the aerodynamic efficiency of a similarly sized turboprop airplane.
When configured as a Cargo Unmanned Aircraft System (Cargo UAS), the following features are added:
- cargo suspension struts. Left and right struts are jointed together by a tube that passes through the pitch axis bearings, and cargo is suspended below these struts. For best cruise performance, standardized cargo containers are enveloped and streamlined by a cargo pod. Odd sized loads can be carried in a cargo net attached by cables to the struts, with cruise speed governed by netted load stability.
- cargo pod. The design of the cargo pod includes individually controlled container latches for individual delivery of each container. The design also enables tilting of each individual container to discharge its contents while retaining the container inside the cargo pod, and includes features for autonomous capture of retrograde containers.
- dry wing panels. Wing panels are mounted to either side of the tailboom at its fixed wing hardpoints. These wing panels have chordwise hinges that allow them to droop for maximum performance takeoff, and aerodynamically deploy and lock into an efficient cruise configuration. The wing panels can remain extended and locked for the full mission to permit continued operations in degraded conditions such has a high seastate or adverse weather.
When configured as an Attack UAS, an alternate set of features are added:
- sponsons. Left and right sponsons are joined together by a tube that passes through the pitch axis bearings. These sponsons are rigged so as to maintain alignment with the tailboom for all flight modes, while primary structural support is provided by the bearings.
- wet wing panels. Fixed wet wing panels are mounted to either side of the tailboom at its fixed wing hardpoints. These wing panels include supplimentary fuel tanks for extending aircraft range. The wet wing panels remain extended in a planar configuration for all missions.
- armaments. The sponsons support rocket launchers, air-to-ground missiles, and turret mounted cannons on both the left and right sides of the aircraft. The fixed wings support wingtip mounted air-to-air missles.
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