US 12,296,991 B2
Hybrid inflatable aircraft of the unmanned type
Giuseppe Persechino, Capua (IT); Vincenzo Rosario Baraniello, Capua (IT); and Roberto Borsa, Capua (IT)
Assigned to C.I.R.A. (CENTRO ITALIANO RICERCHE AEROSPAZIALI), Capua (IT)
Appl. No. 18/263,757
Filed by C.I.R.A. (Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali) S.C.P.A., Capua (IT)
PCT Filed Jan. 13, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/050246
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 1, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/167875, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 11, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000002609 (IT), filed on Feb. 5, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0067368 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64C 39/06 (2006.01); B64U 10/30 (2023.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/31 (2023.01); B64U 101/20 (2023.01)
CPC B64U 10/25 (2023.01) [B64C 39/062 (2013.01); B64U 10/30 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64B 2201/00 (2013.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 50/31 (2023.01); B64U 2101/20 (2023.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid aircraft of the unmanned type, configured for joint and optimized use of aerostatic and aerodynamic force, comprising an inflatable body including an outer shell and a load-bearing structure inside said outer shell, said inflatable body being adapted to take a closed wing operating configuration;
wherein in said closed wing operating configuration, said inflatable body comprises a first arched portion adapted to define an arched wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a second straight portion adapted to define a straight wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a third and a fourth connecting portion arranged at opposite ends of the straight wing, which are adapted to join said arched wing and said straight wing to each other, wherein said load-bearing structure is an annular structure which extends through said arched wing, said straight wing and said third and fourth connecting portions;
wherein said load-bearing structure comprises at least one main annular spar;
wherein said at least one main spar is an inflatable spar.