Patent attributes
An air vehicle has an airframe, aerodynamic lift-generating wings, and a propulsion system. The propulsion system provides propulsion to the air vehicle in powered aerodynamic flight mode and in vectored flight mode, and stability and control in vectored flight mode. The propulsion system includes a first set of non-pivotable first propulsion units, arranged in polygonal arrangement with respect to the airframe, enclosing the air vehicle center of gravity, providing a fixed vertical thrust vector and an aggregate vertical thrust sufficient for enabling vectored flight mode. The propulsion system includes a second set of pivotable second propulsion units, arranged in spaced relationship with respect to the center of gravity, and provide vectored control moments to the air vehicle in three rotational degrees of freedom. The second propulsion units enable angular displacement of the respective thrust vectors at least between a respective vertical position and a respective horizontal position, and provide at least an aggregate horizontal thrust sufficient for providing powered aerodynamic flight mode.
