Tiltplane - a bit like a helicopter but cruises at 400 knots

Please see tiltplane.com. The US patent was granted last week. To see the patent:

Go to: http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
Enter at Term 1: 8146854

A Canadian patent was also applied for three years ago when the US patent was applied for, but it has not been granted yet.

A tiltplane has a long teardrop-shaped fuselage. It is supported in all its flight modes by two rotors which turn in opposite directions about the center-line of the fuselage. One rotor is forward to the craft's center of gravity and the other is aft of the craft's center of gravity. The two rotors are axially well separated from each other. Each rotor would typically have four rotor blades, and each rotor blade's pitch angle would be independently and very rapidly adjusted to give the needed aerodynamic lift as it rotates.

A tiltplane takes off with its axis vertical but, as it climbs and picks up horizontal speed, its axis gradually tilts in the direction it is going until the craft is horizontal at cruising speeds. To land it slows, pitches its nose up, and backs down to a landing on the landing gear in its tail.

I have BASIC programs for the hover, transition, and cruise modes which were written by Ray Prouty. These can be used to study a given tiltplane's performance. People should email me if they would like copies.

Problem solved: Helicopters can't fly very fast. A tiltplane is a dual-rotor VTOL aircraft which offers an efficient, high-speed cruise capability.

Benefits: Lift/drag ratios of 20:1 at 200 knots are easily achieved, and speeds to 400 knots or more are possible.

In spite of the pictures on the tiltplane website, I expect that early tiltplane applications will be unmanned. Then no means are needed to keep passengers upright when the craft tilts.

This invention has never been sold or marketed before.

Condition for sale: I am 70 now. My wife would like for us to have a comfortable retirement.

The rights to the US and Canadian patents would go with the sale. The programs written by Ray Prouty are available now for the asking.

The ownership of the tiltplane.com website would go with the sale of the patents.