Joseph Delouise -- 'DaVinci Vision' airplane -- US Patent #
3,985,317 -- Short-coupled airplane -- NewsReal -- Tom Valentine

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**Joseph DeLOUISE**

**Short-Coupled Airplane**

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**<http://blog.modernmechanix.com/covers>**

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**Mechanics Illustrated
-- October 1952 ...**

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**1980s ... Hunh ... ??**

***Newsreal Series* (1980s), p. 46**

**Unschooled Psychic Dreams Up Remarkable
Aircraft Invention**

**by**

**Tom Valentine**

![](delouise.jpg)

Five years ago psychic Joseph DeLouise had a dream in which the
great Italian master Leonardo DaVinci appeared to him and
inexplicably designed a remarkable aircraft.

Although DeLouise had no formal education beyond the fifth
grade, the famed Chicago seer scribbled a rough sketch of the
aircraft from the vision and today he and some associates are
planning to build a production model of the commuter airplane
of the future.

Weve built and flow a radio-controlled model and it lived up
to all our expectations, DeLouise told NewsReal, and now we
need to raise the funds for the full size prototype.

Grinning from ear to ear, the man who says his life is a
psychic mission watched as the model plane soared overhead,
demonstrating amazing flight stability.

Its almost impossible to crash this plane, DeLouise remarked
happily. Its so easy to learn to fly and it will someday be
the commuters delight.

Though many inventors credit special inspiration that borders
on psychic phenomena for their ideas, DeLouise is the first case
on record of an acclaimed seer coming up with a productive
invention by purely psychic means.

At first I thought I was going crazy, which is usually the
case when this kind of clear, real-life vision comes to me. But
I soon realized that I was going through a psychic experience
and not an ordinary dream as the bearded figure in my vision
spoke to me.

DaVinci, according to DeLouise, sketched the aircraft for the
attentive psychic and tried to explain the various aeronautical
principles as he sketched.

The experience was so vivid, it was real. He would pause as he
spoke to make sure I understood. And even though I dont know
flaps from landing gear, I somehow understood what he was saying
and later I had no trouble remembering the design.

The next day DeLouise called this reporter, who is also his
biographer and said:

Tom, I had the craziest experience last night. Leonardo
DaVinci appeared to me and showed me how to design an
uncrashable airplane.

As usual, I thought Joe was partially unglued, but because I
had been amazed in the past, I didnt scoff at him. Thus
encouraged he began the long quiet pursuit of making a reality
out of his vision.

He arranged to have drawings made by a dentist friend who was
also a competent pilot and aeronautical engineer. The drawings
slowly evolved into models and finally radio-controlled,
gasoline-driven models.

Of course a radio-controlled sale model may not have exactly
the same flight characteristics as a full-sized prototype, but
our model has continued to outperform all other models and this
is encouraging, DeLouise said, sounding like an engineer and
demonstrating how quickly a psychic mind catches on.

The personable seer cannot hide his enthusiasm as he described
the remarkable creation plucked from his DaVinci Vision.

Its going to be the most fantastic airplane in existence.
Its so simple and safe in its operation that anyone can learn
to fly it in a fraction of the time it takes to learn to fly any
standard aircraft today.

 I see it as the aircraft the world is waiting for and
thats why the spirit of DaVinci gave it to me, DeLouise
stressed.

Practical thinking people may very well pooh-pooh the notion
that the spirit of Leonardo really did appear to DeLouise, but,
frankly, there is no more logical explanation.

A man with little education or engineering experience designed
an aircraft that:

Utilizes full san flaps ob both its wigs to not only increase
or decrease the lift of its wings, but also control itself. The
flaps on this visionary plane are also ailerons and elevators.
The endplates that connect the two wings serve as rudders and
vertical stabilizers.

Climbs and descends in an almost perfectly horizontal attitude
(Attitude is the aeronautical term used to describe the angle of
a plane with respect to the horizon). The placement of the wings
makes his possible and also prevents the plane from nose-diving
or becoming dangerously over-controlled.

Remains stable in flight. It will turn without skidding and
tend to stabilize in a level attitude no matter what happens,
including any loss of power.

Lands and takes off in a very short area, meaning less space
will be needed for airport runways.

Easily converts into passenger, cargo, crop-dusting, low-level
military reconnaissance, amphibious glider and hang-glider
crafts.

Lifts more weight because of its center of gravity design.

Provides unparalleled visibility to the pilot and passengers.

The aircraft industry is more than 70 years old and has turned
out some remarkable flying machines --- but nothing in the
annals of invention matches this remarkable vision thats
blossomed into reality.

Ironically it is a genius from the past, DaVinci, who DeLouise
credits with wanting man to soar above the ground.

The only reason I claimed that the person in my vision was
Leonardo, DeLouise explained, was because this was my
immediate impression of who I was listening to and he didnt
make any move to correct my thinking about who he was. Yet later
when my thinking was incorrect regarding what he was saying
about the plane, he corrected it, even though I didnt say a
word.

You and I might say that carrying on a conversation with a
bearded Italian artist from several hundred years ago about an
airplane of the future is insanity   
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But to DeLouise the experience was almost commonplace.

I got the impression as he was talking that he really would
have enjoyed materializing and building the thing himself. He
seemed so enthusiastic in the vision, and I knew his ideas would
work because he left no doubt that he knew what he was talking
about.

DeLouise said he also got the impression that the great
artist-scientist from the past selected the Italian-American
because he knew DeLouise would not be afraid to announce the
vision and try to make it work.

Of course these things were only impressions --- but remember,
thats all a psychic deals with, DeLouise noted.

Scoffers and skeptics are welcome to ridicule the story of the
vision, DeLouise stressed. Its up to them to figure out how I
managed to design such a plane.

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**Visionary Design Overcomes Several
Problems of Drag**

**by**

**Tom Valentine**

For the aeronautical buff who understands the concepts, here
are some of the principles involved in Joe DeLouises DaVinci
Vision as outlined by an expert:

An airplane design is a compromise between its cruising speed
and its landing speed. Usually a fast cruising craft lands fast
and a slow cruising plane lands slow. The use of flaps on an
airplane is a device to allow fast airplanes to lad a little
slower and also tae off in a shorter distance.

However, flaps add to the cost and weight of an airplane and
usually create a disturbing airflow over the tail section when
lowered for landings. Because of this air disturbance the tail
section must be made larger to offset this effect, and again
more cost and weight has been added.

This plane, on the other hand, eliminates all of these faults
and problems by using full span flaps on both of its wings to
not only increase or decrease the lift, but also to control and
stabilize itself. The flaps also act as elevators and ailerons.

The endplates, connecting the wings, carry the vertical
stabilizers and rudders so the plane doesnt require a tail the
size of the one on a standard type plane. This unique design
provides smooth, undisturbed airflow over all the operating
surfaces.

The wings are placed as follows: The rear wing is
approximately one wing chord aft of the forward wing, with a gap
of about two-thirds of the wing chord.

Each wing carries an ELEFLAP (combination elevators and flaps)
which operate in unison. They are activated by the forward or
backward movement of the control column. When the control column
is back, both eleflaps move downward in unison imparting an
increase in the lift to both wings.

The rear eleflap moves to a lesser degree than the forward
eleflap because of its greater distance from the center of
gravity. Since the upper flap is slightly forward of the center
of gravity, a downward movement of the flap causes the nose of
the craft to rise. At the same time the downward movement of the
rear flap causes the nose of the plane to move down. Thus, the
ratio of the eleflaps synchronized movement controls the
longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

This ratio can be adjusted to give the aircraft any desired
attitude when climbing or descending. A slight nose up attitude
when climbing and a slight nose down attitude when descending
seem the safest, most effective and efficient attitude.

Conversely, when the control column is moved forward, both
eleflaps move upward in unison causing a loss of lift to both
wings and the airplane descends in a near level attitude.

The compact configuration and the endplates make it
theoretically possible to make banked turns with rudder action
only. When turning in flight the endplates prevents the airplane
from going into a skid and force it into a bank, thus making a
naturally banked turn.

The endplates being deposed from the forward wing to the rear
wing does not mean a preponderance of area at the extremity of
the craft as does the vertical stabilizer in a standard
configuration.

Although the airplane is short-coupled, its directional
stability is extremely strong because of the placement of the
rear wing well aft of the center of gravity, and also because of
the placement of the vertical stabilizers and rudders on the
endplates.   
Is compactness of design provides the craft with a pendulum
effect that tends to stay straight and level at all times. It
most likely will be required that the pilot hold the plane into
its turns, because as soon as controls are released there will
be a strong tendency to stabilize.

Despite the tendency for stabilization, maneuverability is
greater than with standard aircraft. This has been proven in
radio-controlled flights.

Most of the short field takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft
today are merely standard design vehicles with more expensive
flaps, dropping ailerons and so forth. The chief problem with
these standard STOL types is inadequate control at lower speeds.
Because they must operate at high angles of attack for landings
and takeoffs, their control surfaces operate in a disturbed
airflow created by the wings and flaps. Consequently, their
control surfaces must be much larger than in ordinary aircraft,
thereby creating more weight and drag.

Another great advantage of this design is that it employs two
large flaps, which unlike any other aircraft, also control the
altitude of the plane safely without need f additional drag
producing tail surfaces.

Additionally, the airfoils may be thin, thereby cutting down
on the frontal area of the aircraft. This is possible because of
the short span wings and high lift flaps. These features provide
a high speed potential, quick takeoff and very low landing
speed.

The absence of the conventional fuselage and tail assembly,
which are normally located aft of the propeller, adapts the
design perfectly for a pusher configuration with its attendant
efficient slipstream freedom and quietness plus safety of
operation. The torque force is also absent, making the twist in
a wing unnecessary, thereby saving on further drag.

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**US Patent # 3,985,317**

**Short Coupled Airplane with Variable Wing
Lift**

**Joseph DeLouis & Alexander Geraci**

**( October 12, 1976 )**

**Abstract**

A short coupled airplane with variable wing lift comprising a
fuselage that is free of the conventional tail assembly and has
a wing structure comprising a plurality of short span wing
segments spaced apart longitudinally of the fuselage with the
forwardmost wing section being located forwardly of and above
the level of the aircraft center of gravity, and the
rearwardmost wing section being located rearwardly of, and below
the level of the aircraft center of gravity. The wing sections
at their projecting ends on either side of the airplane are
connected by vertical airfoils each equipped with a rudder. The
wing sections along their trailing edges are each equipped, on
either side of the fuselage, with full span, vertically
swingable members that combine the functions of flaps and
elevators (and are thus called eleflaps). The eleflaps and
rudders are respectively moved in unison to elevate, lower, and
steer the aircraft. The aircraft is driven pusher style by a
propeller driven motor located in vertical alignment with the
aircraft center of gravity.

Current U.S. Class:  244/13 ; 244/45R   
Current International Class:  B64C 39/06 (20060101); B64C
39/00 (20060101); B64C 003/06 ()   
Field of Search:  244/45R,45A,42CC,35R,13,87,54
D12/77,78,71   
References Cited [Referenced By]   
U.S. Patent Documents

1861491 June 1932 Capelis   
1895140 January 1933 Stage   
1927753 September 1933 Porcello   
2151128 March 1939 Looney   
2406625 August 1946 Oglesby   
2713465 July 1955 Novinger   
3202383 August 1965 Le Bel et al.   
D185546 June 1959 Geraci   
Foreign Patent Documents   
1,141,371  Sep., 1957  FR

Other References   
Saab TN 60, "Basic Low Speed Aerodynamics of the Short Coupled
Canard Configuration of Small AR" Behrbohm, July 1965..

**Description**

This invention is directed to powered aircraft, and more
particularly to propeller driven airplanes.

Conventionally, propeller driven airplane design calls for a
fuselage equipped with wings having a large span relative to
their chord, with the average ratio of span to chord being about
7. The wings are equipped adjacent their ends with ailerons
which are operated cooperatively so that an upward movement of
one aileron is accompanied by a downward movement of the other
aileron; they are operated by sideways movement of the pilot's
control column, and are the means by which the wings are kept
level for straight flight, or banked for a turn. The wings also
include, inwardly of the ailerons, lift control flaps that swing
in the same direction vertically to permit fast planes to land
at slower speeds and to take off in shorter distances.

The fuselage of conventional airplanes traditionally is
equipped at its rear end, usually at a distance of some three
chords behind the leading edge of the wings, with a tail
assembly, usually including a vertical stabilizer equipped at
its trailing edge with the rudder, and a horizontal stabilizer
equipped at its trailing edge with an elevator. The vertical
stabilizer provides for vertical stabilization and the rudder it
carries is for directional steering. The horizontal stabilizer
balances or trims the plane, that is, insures that the resultant
of all the air forces acting on the plane passes through the
center of gravity of the plane. The elevator is the primary
control organ of the plane since by it the pilot alters the
angle of incidence of the wings and hence controls the plane
speed.

The design specified for a particular airplane construction is
fundamentally a compromise between its cruising speed and its
landing speed. Usually a fast cruising airplane lands fast and a
slow cruising airplane lands slow. The use of flaps on the
airplane wings is to provide for fast planes to land at a
reduced speed, and also to take off in a shorter distance than
might otherwise be possible. However, such flaps add to the cost
and weight of the airplane, and usually create a disturbing air
flow over the aircraft tail section when lowered for landings,
which requires an enlargement of the tail section to offset this
effect, again adding to the cost and weight problems involved.
Furthermore, in most standard type of airplanes, much of the
fuselage is located aft of the aircraft center of gravity, and
the major function of that portion of the fuselage is to carry
the tail assembly. Thus, much of the fuselage defines wasted
space since any significant loading up towards the tail assembly
would make the aircraft tail heavy.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an
airplane arrangement that climbs and descends in a level or near
level attitude, and has stability characteristics that are
markedly improved over those of conventional airplanes.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide an
airplane arrangement, utilizing components historically known to
be reliable in the practice of aerodynamics, which minimizes
controls to be handled while providing an aircraft of greatly
improved maneuverability and stability.

Another important object of the invention is to eliminate the
need for the usual tail assembly and adapt the airplane and
fuselage for location of baggage or cargo space at or near the
center of gravity of the aircraft.

Still other objects of the invention are to provide an airplane
arrangement adapted for pusher propulsion with its attendant
efficient slipstream freedom and quietness and safety of
operation, to provide an airplane vertical airfoil arrangement
that reduces the need to "crab" when landing in a cross wind, to
provide a basic airplane arrangement susceptible of wide
utilization, and to provide an aircraft that is economical of
manufacture, convenient, economical, and safe to operate, and
that is adapted for a wide variety of both civilian and military
purposes, and that is also spin proof.

In accordance with the invention, the airplane fuselage is
short coupled and has no tail assembly. The wing structure
comprises a plurality of short span wing sections that are
spaced apart longitudinally and vertically of the fuselage, with
the forwardmost wing section being located forwardly of the
craft center of gravity and adjacent the top level of the craft,
and the rearwardmost wing section being located rearwardly of
the center of gravity and sufficiently below the wing sections
forward of it to be below their slipstreams. The wing sections
along their trailing edges are each equipped, on either side of
the fuselage, with vertically movable members that combine the
functions of elevators and flaps, (and are thus herein called
eleflaps), which members function not only to increase and
decrease the wing lift, but also to control vertical movement of
the craft. The wing sections at their ends or tips, on either
side of the airplane, are connected together by vertical
airfoils that are each equipped with a rudder for steering
purposes.

The eleflaps serve the functions of flaps, ailerons and
elevators, and provide for vertical movement of the craft in a
level or near level attitude. The vertical airfoils serve as the
craft vertical stabilizers, and are proportioned and located to
achieve lateral plane movement in cross winds that permits cross
wind landing with minimal crabbing. The rudders are arranged to
operate in unison to achieve turns in flight.

Other objects, uses and advantages will be obvious or become
apparent from a consideration of the following detailed
description and the application drawings in which like reference
numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

**FIG. 1** is a diagrammatic plan view, largely in block
diagram form illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

![](fig1-2.jpg)

**FIG. 2** is a side elevational view of the aircraft shown
in FIG. 1;

**FIGS. 3 and 4** are diagrams illustrating the manner in
which the craft eleflaps are operated to move the aircraft
vertically;

![](fig3-4.jpg)

**FIG. 5** is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but on a
smaller scale and diagrammatically illustrating the manner in
which the rudder operate;

![](fig5.jpg)

**FIG. 6** is a plan view of a modified form of the
invention:

![](fig6-7.jpg)

**FIG. 7** is a side elevational view of the aircraft shown
in FIG. 6;

**FIG. 8** is a diagrammatic illustration of an articulated
linkage control arrangement for actuating the eleflaps of the
embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 from the pilots control column;

![](fig8910.jpg)

**FIG. 9** diagrammatically illustrates a suitable rudder
control arrangement for the aircraft of this invention; and

**FIG. 10** illustrates a detail aspect of the rudder
control arrangement of FIG. 9.

However, it is to be distinctly understood that the drawing
illustrations provided are supplied primarily to comply with the
requirements of the Patent Laws, and that the invention is
susceptible of the variations and modifications that will be
obvious to those skilled in the art which are intended to be
covered by the appended claims.

Reference numeral 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 generally indicates one
embodiment of the invention which comprises fuselage 12 equipped
with wing structure 14 and a pusher type propeller 16 suitably
powered by a suitable motor appropriately mounted and housed
within the fuselage where indicated by reference numeral 18.

The fuselage 12 defines forward end 20 and aft end 22 that are
given appropriate streamlined contour. As has been pointed out
hereinbefore, the fuselage 12 lacks the usual tail assembly; it
includes a suitable operator's cockpit where indicated at 21,
passenger or cargo space where indicated at 23, and suitable
ground support wheels 25.

The wing structure 14 is of special configuration and comprises
a forward short span wing section 24 and a rearward or aft short
span wing section 26 suitably united with the fuselage in any
conventional manner consistent with good engineering practice.
On either side of the aircraft, the end 28 of wing section 24 is
joined to the end 30 of wing section 26 by vertical airfoil 32,
and the end 34 of wing section 24 is joined to the end 36 of
wing section 26 by vertical airfoil 38.

The wing section 24 on either side of the aircraft is equipped
with full span vertically movable eleflaps 40 and 42, while the
wing section 26 is similarly equipped with full span vertically
movable eleflaps 44 and 46.

The vertical airfoil 32 at its trailing end 48 is equipped with
horizontally movable rudder 50 suitably pivotally mounted for
movement about upright axis 51, while the airfoil 38 at its
trailing end 52 is equipped with horizontally movable rudder 54
suitably pivotally mounted for movement about upright axis 55.

The wing sections 24 and 26 may be of essentially conventional
wing design except for the short span and other considerations
indicated. Wing section 26 is disposed approximately one wing
chord aft of the wing section 24, so that a gap 56 is defined by
the wing sections 24 and 26 making up the wing structure 14.
Wing section 26 is also at a level below that of wing section 24
that is equivalent to approximately one half wing chord.

The eleflaps 40, 42, 44 and 45 may be constructed and mounted
in the same manner as conventional elevators or flaps. Wing
section 24 is located forwardly of the aircraft center of
gravity, indicated at 60 in FIG. 1-5, with the eleflaps 40 and
42 of the wing section 26 being disposed above the center of
gravity in the embodiment shown and mounted for pivotal swinging
movement about pivot axes 58 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that extend
longitudinally of wing section 26; eleflaps 44 and 46 are
suitably mounted for pivotal movement about axes 59 that extend
longitudinally of wing section 26. The eleflaps 40, 42, 44, and
46 are connected for actuation from the pilot's control column
62 in such a manner (see, for instance, FIG. 8) that they
operate in unison, and all eleflaps move in the same direction.
It is also important that the aft eleflaps 44 and 46 move to a
lesser degree than the forward eleflaps 40 and 42 because of
their greater distance from the center of gravity 60 of the
craft.

As a general proposition, in accordance with this invention,
the forwardmost wing section should be located so that its
eleflaps are disposed above or forwardly of the aircraft center
of gravity. Also, the vertical swinging movement of the
respective eleflaps is approximately inversely proportional to
the distance of the respective eleflap centers of movement
forward or aft of the craft center of gravity. Thus, where the
forwardmost eleflap is located in substantial vertical alignment
with the craft center of gravity, such eleflap will have maximum
vertical movement and the rearward eleflap will have a vertical
movement inversely proportional to the distance of its axis of
movement aft of the center of gravity.

The actuation of the eleflaps 40, 42, 44 and 46 is made that
when the pilot's control column is moved rearwardly, as
indicated in FIG. 3, the eleflaps 40, 42, 44 and 46 are lowered
about their respective pivotal axes. Since the forward eleflaps
40 and 42 are substantially aligned with the craft's center of
gravity, longitudinally of the aircraft, when such eleflaps are
moved downwardly the result is that the forward end or nose 20
of the aircraft is caused to rise, as indicated in FIG. 3. At
the same time, similar movement of the eleflaps 44 and 46 tends
to cause the forward end or nose of the aircraft to move
downwardly. The lesser degree of movement of the rearward
eleflaps 44 and 46 is needed because of their distance from the
center of gravity longitudinally of the aircraft, whereby they
provide a greater moment in effecting the attitude of the
aircraft.

Where the control column 62 is moved forwardly, as when
descending, the forward wing section eleflaps 40 and 42 move
upwardly thereby causing the nose of the aircraft to move
downwardly (as indicated in FIG. 4), while the wing section
eleflaps 40, and 46 move upwardly tending to cause the aircraft
nose to move upwardly.

It will thus be seen that there is a critical ratio of forward
wing span eleflap movement to rearward wing span flap movement,
in unison, relative to the craft center of gravity, which
controls the attitude of the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.
This ratio can be set or adjusted to give the aircraft a desired
attitude when climbing or descending. Preferably the ratio
selected will provide a slight nose up attitude when climbing
and slight nose down attitude when descending, from the
standpoint of safety, efficiency and effectiveness.

The further back the control column 60 is moved, the greater is
the increase that is provided in the lift of both wing sections
for climbing in a level or near level attitude, while when the
control column is pushed forward, both wing sections lose lift
and the aircraft descends in a level or near level attitude.

The rudders 50 and 54 are similarly controlled by pilot
operated foot pedals to move in unison in the same direction.
The rudders 50 and 54 are suitably mounted for pivotal movement
about axes 51 and 55 that are vertically disposed when the
aircraft is in a level attitude, and the pivotal mounting
involved may be achieved in any suitable manner consistent with
good aerodynamics engineering practice. FIGS. 9 and 10
illustrate diagrammatically a suitable rudder control
arrangement.

The short wing span of the aircraft 10 gives it a compact
configuration. As a general proposition, in accordance with the
invention the wing span may be substantially equal to or less
than the length of the fuselage, and have a chord to span length
ratio on the order of four to one. The wing and fuselage
arrangement indicated also provides for the center of lift of
the aircraft to be located one third of the distance
(longitudinally of the craft) between the centers of lift of the
forward and rearward wing sections (aft of the forward wing
section center of left), and also to be located in substantial
vertical alignment with the center of gravity 60.

The general combination provided by the compact aircraft
configuration, its vertical airfoils 32 and 38, and the rudder
action provided permits the aircraft to make banked turns with
rudder action only, thereby eliminating the need for ailerons
for shorter wing span models. When the aircraft is in flight and
the rudders 50 and 54 are actuated for turning purposes, for
instance, a turn to the right as indicated in FIG. 5, the
vertical air foils 32 and 38 prevent the aircraft from going
into a skid, and the aircraft is forced into a bank, thus making
a naturally banked turn. The air foils 32 and 38, in extending
between the forward and rearward wing sections, do not present a
proponderance of area at the rear portion of the aircraft, as
does the vertical stabilizer of the usual tail assembly, while
presenting a relative large effective area adjacent the craft
center of gravity.

In spite of the short coupled nature of the aircraft 10, its
directional stability is very good because of the placement of
the rearmost wing section 26 well aft of the aircraft center of
gravity, and also because of the disposition of the wing
structure 14 and airfoils 32 and 38 to either side of the
aircraft at the ends of the wing sections.

The result is that when the aircraft experiences wind from one
side of same, fishtailing is avoided and application of moments
to the fuselage is also avoided because the tail assembly is
omitted from the aircraft 10. The two rudders 50 and 54 when
operated provide an effective moment for steering purposes that
is equivalent to the location of a single rudder where indicated
by reference numeral 66 in FIG. 5.

In aircraft 70 of FIGS. 6 and 7, the fuselage 72 is provided
with wing structure 74 that comprises a plurality of wing
sections 76, 78 and 80 in which the forwardmost wing section 76
is located forwardly of the aircraft center of gravity
(indicated at 82) while the rearwardmost wing section 80 is
spaced rearwardly or aft of the aircraft approximately two wing
chords. The wing section 76 is disposed at the upper level of
the aircraft while the wing sections 78 and 80 are disposed at
spaced levels below the level of the section 76, as suggested in
FIG. 7. Gap 82 separates wing sections 76 and 78 while gap 84
separates wing sections 78 and 80. Fuselage has nose portion 85
and tail portion 87, but no tail assembly of the conventional
type.

Wing section 76 is provided with a full span eleflap 86, wing
section 78 is provided with a full span eleflap 88 and wing span
section 80 is provided with a full span eleflap 90. Eleflaps 86,
88 and 90 may be comparable in structure to conventional
elevators and flaps and mounted and controlled in the manner
already indicated with respect to the aircraft 10, so as to
pivot about the respective pivot axes 89, 91 and 93.

The wing sections 76, 78, 80 at their ends 92, 94 and 96 are
connected together by vertical foil 98 while wing section ends
100, 102 and 104 are connected together by vertical foil 106.
Vertical foil 98 is provided with rudder 108 at its trailing
end, mounted for pivotal movement about upright axis 109, while
vertical foil 106 is provided with rudder 110 at its trailing
end, mounted for pivotal movement about upright axis 111.
Rudders 108 and 110 are mounted and operated in a manner
comparable to rudders 50 and 54 of aircraft 10.

The aircraft 70 is provided with suitable propeller 112 driven
by a suitable motor (not shown) suitably mounted and housed
within the fuselage approximately where indicated at 114,
through suitable shafting and gearing operating in housing
structure 116 that in the form shown extends through the wing
section 78.

The fuselage 72 is suitably arranged and constructed to define
the usual operator's cockpit where indicated at 118, a fuel tank
where indicated at 120, and baggage compartment where indicated
at 122. The aircraft 70 is provided with suitable riding wheels
124 and 126, in the form illustrated.

In the aircraft 70, the rearward wing sections are spaced
approximately one-half chord length longitudinally of the craft,
and are spaced or staggered approximately one-third of a chord
length vertically of the craft.

The aircraft 70 is operated in the same manner as aircraft 10.
The eleflaps 88 and 90 are operated to move vertically, relative
to the corresponding movement of eleflap 86, in proportion to
their distances from the center of gravity of the aircraft,
longitudinally of the fuselage, and as described with reference
to the aircraft 10.

The vertical foils of aircraft 10 and 70 are disposed in
vertical planes that parallel the longitudinal axis of the
craft. These vertical foils may be of any suitable airfoil
construction consistent with good aircraft engineering practice.

A typical eleflap actuation arrangement 150 is shown in FIG. 8
for the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the pilot's control
column 62 is shown pivotally mounted (in the craft) for pivotal
movement about axis 152, and is pivotally connected as at 154 to
link 156 that is in turn pivotally connected as at 158 to bell
crank lever 160 pivotally mounted for pivotal movement about
axis 162. Bell crank lever 160 is pivotally connected as at 164
to link 166 that is in turn pivotally connected as at 168 to
bell crank lever 170 pivotally mounted for pivotal movement
about axis 172. Bell crank lever 170 is pivotally connected as
at 174 to link 176 that is pivotally, connected as at 178 to
crank arm 180 that is fixed to eleflap 86. Link 176 is also
pivotally connected at the same pivot point 178 to link 180
which in turn is pivotally connected as at 182 to crank arm 184
that is fixed to eleflap 88. Link 180 is also connected at pivot
182 to link 186 that is pivotally connected as at 188 to crank
arm 190 that is fixed to eleflap 90.

As eleflap 86 is disposed above the craft center of gravity 82,
crank arms 184 and 190 are given effective lengths inversely
proportional to their positions aft of the center of gravity,
relative to the length of crank arm 180, whereby the degree of
pivotal movement of the respective eleflaps 88 and 90 has the
inversely proportional relationship to the degree of pivotal
movement of the eleflap 86 that has been indicated. The result
is that, assuming the position A of the pilots control column 62
is the level flight position, moving the control column 62 to
the B and C positions provides the corresponding positions of
the eleflaps 86, 88, and 90 that are indicated by the
corresponding primed letters. In the B position of control
column 62 lift is increased, while in the C position of column
62, lift is decreased.

In practice, the location and positioning of the various
components of eleflap control arrangement 150 is made consistent
and compatible with good aircraft engineering design. A similar
eleflap arrangement for the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 is provided
by eliminating the link 186 and the parts it controls, and
proportioning the length of the crank arms for eleflaps 40, 42,
44 and 46 in accordance with the principles already mentioned.
The link corresponding to link 180 would for the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-5, have a length consistent with the positioning of the
forward and aft eleflaps. Of course, the eleflaps of the
respective wing sections 24 and 26 may be suitably connected
together for synchronous operation by a single eleflap control
arrangement of the type indicated.

Where it is found desirable to provide for operation of the
eleflaps in the manner of ailerons, suitable alternately
operable controls conventionally arranged may be employed.

In the showings of FIGS. 9 and 10, the rudder control
arrangement 200 involves a pair of foot operated pedal levers
202 and 204, pivotally mounted as at 206 and 208, respectively,
and disposed on either side of the control column 62. Lever 202
is connected to crank arm 209 of rudder 50 by cable 210 trained
about suitable guide pulleys 212, while lever 204 is connected
to crank arm 213 of rudder 54 by cable 214 trained about
suitable guide pulleys 216. Cable 218 trained about suitable
guide pulleys 220 is connected between crank arm 222 of rudder
50 and crank arm 224 of rudder 54. The cables 210 and 214 are
suitably tensioned and operably mounted relative to the craft so
that the pilot by moving levers 202 and 204 in opposite
directions, using his feet applied to the respective pedals 226
and 228, may simultaneously swing the rudders 50 and 54 from
side to side to steer the craft as needed.

Of course, other rudder controls providing for the indicated
simultaneous and synchronous swinging movement of rudders 50 and
54 may be utilized, as will be apparent to those skilled in the
art.

It will therefore be seen that the invention provides an
aircraft of compact configuration that provides unusual
stability in flight together with the advantages of level or
near level attitude for both ascent and descent. The compact
configuration of the aircraft together with the placement of the
wing structure of same, the short spans of the wings, and the
vertical foils, provides the aircraft with a pendulum effect in
which the main weight of the aircraft is located adjacent or in
vertical alignment with its center of gravity whereby the
aircraft tends towards level attitude at all times. Even in
making a turn, the aircraft has a strong tendency to return to
straight and level flight and thus on release of control in
making a turn the craft will return to straight and level
flight.

The aircraft of this invention also overcomes the main fault of
a two-control airplane, that is, the inability of such aircraft
to enter into a slide slip. Not only will the aircraft of this
invention not enter into a side slip, but it moves vertically in
a far more superior manner.

Thus, the pilot by pushing his control column forward can make
the aircraft lose altitude very rapidly without gaining any
forward speed and while remaining in a level or near level
attitude.

The smooth unobstructed airflow past all the control surfaces
of the aircraft of this invention make the aircraft fully
controllable at all speeds without added weight or drag. This
especially suits aircraft involving the invention for short
field landing and take-off (STOL). Most STOL aircraft at the
present time involve expensive flaps, drooping ailerons, and the
like to facilitate landing and take-off but result in inadequate
control at the lower speeds. Because such conventional craft
must operate at higher angles of attack for landings and
take-off, their control surfaces operate in a disturbed airflow
created by the wings and flaps and therefore their control
surfaces must be much larger than in ordinary aircraft, thereby
creating more weight and drag.

The wing section eleflaps provided by the invention safely
control the attitude of the aircraft and without the need of
extra drag producing tail surfaces. In addition, the eleflap
control surfaces operate in an undisturbed air flow. As the
arrangement of the present invention utilizes high lift eleflaps
and short span wings, the air foils involved may be relatively
thin thereby cutting down on the frontal area of the aircraft.
This, in conjunction with the lack of a tail assembly, gives the
aircraft of the invention a high speed potential, and quick
take-off capability with low landing speeds. As altitude can be
lost rapidly without gaining ground speed, side slips are
unnecessary.

The absence, in the arrangement of the present invention, of
the convenional tail assembly aft of the propeller adapts the
Applicant's aircraft arrangement perfectly for a pusher type
propulsion configuration with its attendant efficient slip
stream freedom and quietness and safety of operation. Due to the
operation of pusher type propulsion in the hereindisclosed
arrangement, torque is absent in the applicant's arrangement
thereby eliminating the need for a twist in the wings or offset
vertical stabilizers.

The arrangement of this invention makes a large passenger or
cargo space at or adjacent the center of gravity of the
aircraft, thereby permitting greater loads to be carried with
ease and in greater safety.

The positioning of the rearward or aft wing sections of the
craft relative to the forward wing sections, improves the lift
to drag ratio of the forward wing sections due to the fact that
low pressure areas along the upper surfacing of the rearward
wings tend to draw air from the trailing edge of the immediately
preceding wing section, thus straightening out the wing edge
vortices and reducing the drag resulting from such vortices. As
a result, the positioning of the wing sections as indicated
provides a total wing lift that is greater than the summation of
the lift provided by each wing section if same were considered
functioning independently.

The vertical airfoils, in having a substantial area of same
adjacent the center of gravity of the craft, and thus the center
of lift, provide for a lateral movement of the aircraft in
crosswinds, which avoids or reduces crabbing needed for landing
in crosswinds. The vertical air foils also confine air flow to
through the gaps between the wing sections, thereby contributing
further to wing tip vortex reduction. Also, air flow is blocked,
by the vertical air foils, from up around the wing tips.

Of course the visibility afforded the pilot from the cockpit,
due to the pusher type propulsion employed, and the ease of
entering and leaving the aircraft due to easier access permitted
to the cockpit and personnel quarters of the craft, are welcome
features of the Applicant's arrangement.

The Applicant's arrangement has wide applicability for use in
sport planes, cargo planes, crop dusting planes, executive
planes, and has many other capabilities in the civilain field.
Military operations are also immediately apparent. The special
configuration of the Applicant's arrangement lends the
Applicant's invention to embodiment in amphibious aircraft.

The short wing span on the aircraft of Applicant's invention
permits the aircraft to be much lighter in weight than
conventional aircraft of a comparable type.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to
explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not to
be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so
limited, since those skilled in the art who have the disclosure
before them will be able to make modifications and variations
therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

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