US 11,780,556 B2
Methods and apparatus for space-efficient aircraft deployment
Tony Shuo Tao, Arlington, MA (US); Lauren Trollinger Wolfe, Manassas, VA (US); Lansing Wei, Manassas, VA (US); and Francesco Giannini, Falls Church, VA (US)
Assigned to Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, Manassas, VA (US)
Filed by Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, Manassas, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/526,641.
Prior Publication US 2023/0150648 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 3/56 (2006.01); B64D 17/80 (2006.01); B64C 3/30 (2006.01); B64C 3/18 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 3/56 (2013.01) [B64C 3/185 (2013.01); B64C 3/30 (2013.01); B64D 17/80 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of deploying an aircraft, the method comprising:
separating the aircraft from a launch vehicle, the aircraft having a wing pivotably coupled to a fuselage;
rotating, about an axis of rotation, the wing relative to the fuselage from a first rotational orientation to a second rotational orientation different from the first rotational orientation, wherein, in the first rotational orientation, the wing extends along a direction that substantially aligns with a longitudinal axis of the fuselage; and
extending an inflatable portion of the wing from a folded position, the inflatable portion to extend in a lateral direction away from the fuselage when the wing is rotated to the second rotational orientation.