US 12,296,968 B2
Dual engine vertical take off and landing collapsible fixed wing aircraft
Sean Keith-Stewart, San Diego, CA (US); Christian William Lopez, San Diego, CA (US); and Jessica Rader, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Anduril Industries, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA (US)
Filed by Anduril Industries, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/301,422.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/444,080, filed on Feb. 8, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0262489 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 29/02 (2006.01); B23P 19/04 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01); B64C 3/56 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64C 29/02 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); B64F 5/50 (2017.01); B64U 80/50 (2023.01); B64U 20/50 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 29/02 (2013.01) [B23P 19/04 (2013.01); B64C 1/063 (2013.01); B64C 3/56 (2013.01); B64C 29/00 (2013.01); B64C 29/02 (2013.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); B64F 5/50 (2017.01); B64U 80/50 (2023.01); B64U 20/50 (2023.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft, comprising:
a first wing and a second wing;
a center wing disposed between the first wing and the second wing, wherein the first wing is coupled to the center wing by a second hinge, wherein the second wing is coupled to the center wing by a third hinge, and wherein the second hinge and the third hinge are disposed on a side of the center wing that corresponds to a bottom of the aircraft when in flight;
a fuselage operatively connected to the center wing by a first hinge disposed on a side of the fuselage that corresponds to the bottom of the aircraft when in flight;
a first engine operatively mounted to the first wing, wherein the first engine comprises a first proprotor, wherein one or more first proprotor blades of the first proprotor are detachably mounted to the first engine, and wherein the one or more first proprotor blades are attached to the first engine by a push and twist connection; and
a second engine operatively mounted to the second wing,
wherein:
the aircraft is configured to vertically take-off and land; and
the first engine and the second engine are used for both (i) vertical take-off and landing, and (ii) horizontal flight.