Air vehicle

Abstract

An air vehicle includes a fuselage defining an air vehicle roll axis, a fixed wing arrangement in fixed spatial disposition with respect to the fuselage, and a propulsion system having at least four propulsion units. Each propulsion unit is mounted with respect to the wing system in lateral spaced relationship with respect to the roll axis, adjacent propulsion units being spaced circumferentially from one another. Each propulsion unit is configured for generating thrust along a respective thrust vector axis. Each thrust vector axis is in fixed inclined spatial orientation with respect to the roll axis such that the respective thrust has a non-zero thrust component defined on a plane orthogonal to the roll axis. Each non-zero thrust component has a respective non-zero moment arm with respect to the roll axis such as to provide a respective roll moment. Methods of controlling operation of an air vehicle are also provided.

Images