SERPENT-LIKE AIRCRAFT Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: lighter-than-air aircraft. SUBSTANCE: serpent-like aircraft has disc-shaped pneumatic-carcass body 1 filled with lighter-than-air gas and provided with system of tying ropes 2. At their one ends the ropes are tied to knot from four cables 3 and 4 connected to disc 1 in three points around its perimeter and in one central point, and at their opposite ends the ropes are connected to ground-mounted winches 5. Sectionalized shell 6 of the disc is manufactured from gas-impermeable material. In its center disc 1 is provided with central toroidal stiffness rib embraced by rigid carcass carrying radome 11 from radiotransparent material intended for accommodating rebroadcasting antennas and mounted over disc 1. Any cross section of disc 1 of the aircraft is an unsymmetrical airfoil. Compartments of the disc-shaped body are positioned concentrically. On bottom the axial hole is closed by radio-transparent shell. Disc 1 is provided with internally-mounted radially-oriented ribs. The center of gravity of the aircraft lies below the center of volume of the gas. The tangent of the angle of inclination of each tying rope 2 relative to horizon is approximately equal to the lift-to-drag ratio of the aircraft at zero angle of attack. EFFECT: better aerodynamic stabilization of aircraft in flight conditions characterized by wind varying in intensity and direction. 4 dwg