US 11,932,375 B2
Aircraft with external upper cargo module
Uri Pinhasi, Lod (IL); Rami Skladman, Lod (IL); Gali Oz, Lod (IL); Igor Golodriga, Lod (IL); Meital Milo, Lod (IL); Shay Arzi, Lod (IL); Rami Zaphir, Lod (IL); and Michele Esther Hasid, Lod (IL)
Assigned to ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD., Lod (IL)
Appl. No. 18/004,947
Filed by ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD., Lod (IL)
PCT Filed Jun. 30, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IL2021/050803
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 10, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/043984, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 276940 (IL), filed on Aug. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0339595 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 1/22 (2006.01); A62C 3/08 (2006.01); B64C 5/06 (2006.01); B64D 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 1/22 (2013.01) [A62C 3/08 (2013.01); B64C 5/06 (2013.01); B64D 9/003 (2013.01); B64D 2009/006 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An enhanced cargo capacity aircraft, converted from a datum aircraft, comprising:
(a) the datum aircraft, wherein the datum aircraft comprises at least a fuselage having a dorsal fuselage part,
(b) a cargo module affixed to the datum aircraft, thereby converting the datum aircraft to the enhanced cargo capacity aircraft;
(c) the datum aircraft being designed for aerodynamic flight capability absent said cargo module;
(d) the enhanced cargo capacity aircraft being capable of aerodynamic flight;
(e) the cargo module providing enhanced cargo capacity to the datum aircraft, the cargo module comprising an external aerodynamic fairing defining an internal cargo volume, and configured for being conformally affixed in overlying relationship with respect to the dorsal fuselage part, the cargo module comprising a cargo handling floor and at least one access door, and a cargo handling system configured for transporting and securing at least one cargo unit within said cargo volume, wherein said cargo unit comprises a standard unit load device (ULD).