US 11,926,434 B2
Aircraft fuselage configurations for avoiding tail strike while allowing long payloads
Scott David Rewerts, Summerfield, NC (US); Jason C. Bell, Boulder, CO (US); and Mark Emil Lundstrom, Boulder, CO (US)
Assigned to ZSM Holdings LLC, Dover, DE (US)
Filed by ZSM HOLDINGS LLC, Dover, DE (US)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/403,134.
Application 17/403,134 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/049787, filed on Sep. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/938,853, filed on Nov. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/896,529, filed on Sep. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/896,533, filed on Sep. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0380218 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 9/00 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01); B64C 1/14 (2006.01); B64C 1/20 (2006.01); B64C 1/22 (2006.01); B64C 3/32 (2006.01); B64C 3/34 (2006.01); B64C 17/08 (2006.01); B64D 37/04 (2006.01); B64F 1/32 (2006.01); F03D 13/40 (2016.01)
CPC B64D 9/003 (2013.01) [B64C 1/0683 (2020.01); B64C 1/1415 (2013.01); B64C 1/20 (2013.01); B64C 1/22 (2013.01); B64C 3/32 (2013.01); B64C 3/34 (2013.01); B64C 17/08 (2013.01); B64D 9/00 (2013.01); B64D 37/04 (2013.01); B64F 1/32 (2013.01); F03D 13/40 (2016.05); B64D 2009/006 (2013.01); F05B 2260/02 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cargo aircraft, comprising:
a fuselage defining a forward end, an aft end, and a continuous interior cargo bay that spans a majority of a length of the fuselage from the forward end to the aft end, the fuselage including:
a forward portion extending from the forward end and containing a forward region of the continuous interior cargo bay, the forward portion defining a forward centerline;
an aft portion extending to the aft end and containing an aft region of the continuous interior cargo bay, the aft portion defining an aft centerline; and
a kinked portion forming a junction between the forward portion and the aft portion of the fuselage and between the forward and aft regions of the continuous interior cargo bay, the kinked portion containing a transition region of the continuous interior cargo bay and defining a bend angle between the forward centerline and the aft centerline such that the aft centerline extends above a longitudinal-lateral plane of the forward centerline, and the kinked portion comprising a plurality of structural frame elements oriented in parallel with structural frame elements of the forward portion adjacent to the kinked portion;
a first fixed wing extending from the fuselage in a first direction away from the fuselage; and
a second fixed wing extending from the fuselage in a second direction away from the fuselage, the second direction being symmetric with the first direction about a longitudinal-vertical center plane of the cargo aircraft,
wherein a lower exterior surface of the kinked portion slopes vertically upward from a forward end of the kinked portion to an aft end of the kinked portion.