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HOW A FREEWING WORKS
Hinged along a span-wise axis
Floats freely in pitch
Blends with changes in relative wind
Simple, passive system -- based on new
aerodynamic principles
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FREEWING CROSS SECTION
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HOW A FREE LEVER WORKS
Thrust and Drag Forces act upon each end of
the lever
Pivots freely to balance forces
Gravity/Drag Pendulums interact
Simple, inherently stable system
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FREELEVER CROSS SECTION
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Spirit technology is a Double Invention
Spirit


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Easy Transitions with Spirit
Freewings and boom self-adjust throughout
transition
Automatically Passively Neutralizing
turbulence throughout process
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Common Avionics Suite
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Spirit v. Tilt-Rotor
Wing structure- lighter, simpler - No
mechanical mechanisms to induce
movement Vertical to Horizontal Thrust
transition much simpler - No gearboxes to force
transition Inherently Stable in all Flight
Modes More fuel-efficient due to reverse
snowball effect in design Payload/Range
expanded Increased safety fewer moving parts
reduced likelihood of catastrophic failure
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TEAMING PARTNERS
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Developed in a predecessor company
Freewing
1983 - 1992
1992 - 1999
Manned Freewings
Early Freewing Thrust-Vectored Prototypes
Spirit Model 400
1999
Payload up to 890 lbs
Freebird MK-1, 1983-5
Scorpion Configuration Freewing Thrust-Vectored
Air Vehicles (near-VTOL)
Model 100 PreProd 005
Model 100 PreProd 004
Freebird MK-2, 1989
Sold to Matra BAe 1998
Model 100 PreProd 003
Spirit Model 400
Spirit Model 100
Freebird MK-3, 1990
Payload up to 220 lbs
Leased to NASA 1998
Model 100 prototype 1 Mod-1
1995
Freebird MK-4, 1991
1998
Model 60 prototype 2
1995
Model 100 PreProd 002
Model 100 prototype 1
Model 100 PreProd 001
Model 50 prototype
1994
Spirit Model 20
Freebird MK-5, 1992-3
1994
1997
Model 40 prototype, 1992/3
Model 60 prototype 1
1993
Manta Configuration Freewing Thrust-Vectored Air
Vehicles (full-VTOL)
Payload up to 20 lbs
1993
1992
1994
1995
Freewing Wind Tunnel Models (570 hours - 1990-97)
Common Avionics
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Advantages of Spirit Concept
Can fly at a hover or at dash speeds
Or sustained at any speed in between
Each possible speed is inherently stable
Fuselage can be pointed independently of
flight path
- Allows gross sensor vectoring Normal
look-down sensor can also view forward Increas
e in effective scan area of sensor
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Advantages of Spirit Concept (cont.)
Expanded Mission Capability
- V/STOL performance and endurance of a fixed
wing
- System Flexibility Larger Flight
Envelope Inherent Stability Increased
Transportability No External Launch Recovery
Spirit Freewing concept is inherently modular
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Spirit is Inherently Modular
Freewing
Breakthrough-technology thrust-vectored UAVs
Flight Technologies, Inc.
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OPPOSING THEORIES CONVENTIONAL WING VS. FREEWING
Angle of incidence - relation of wing to
fuselage Angle of attack - relation of wing to
relative wind
FREEWING Angle of incidence is variable Angle
of attack is constant
CONVENTIONAL WING Angle of incidence is
constant Angle of attack is variable
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Advantages of Spirit Concept (cont.)
Gust-induced vertical displacement from flight
path on final approach is significantly
reduced. Final approach is smoothed.
Easy to transit through burble from
ship superstructure
No longer need to slow down in turbulent
air turbulence neutralization is so efficient
VNE occurs before VMO
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Advantages of Spirit Concept (cont.)
Significantly more stable sensor platform
better image - Valuable trait for E/O sensor
missions - Invaluable for target designation
missions
Airframe/system degradation from turbulence
reduced
Freewing insensitive to changes in fuselage
dynamics (can survive loss of tail surfaces and
continue mission)
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Advantages of Spirit Concept (cont.)
Inherently Stall Proof, Spin Proof
Up to 4-to-1 Reduction in Vertical Gust
Sensitivity (effective wing-loading increased
dramatically)
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Mission Planning Ground Control Stations 16
Mission Planning Ground Control Stations 16
Launch Recovery 15
Air Vehicle 15
Air Vehicle 15
Modular Mission Payloads Data Links 20
Modular Mission Payloads Data Links 20
Integrated Logistics Support (Spares Training
Devices, Etc.) 34
Source DoD UAV Joint Project Office 1993
Master Plan
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Relative displacement from flight path
Inches
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Fixed Wing
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Straight Level Flight
-50
Displacement by turbulence is more than an
order of magnitude less for the freewing
case.
Gusts
-- NASA CR-1513, Sept. 1970
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Freewing
Breakthrough-technology thrust-vectored UAVs
Flight Technologies, Inc.
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GUST LEVEL REQUIRED TO EXCEED COMFORT
INDEX
(Source NASA CR-1523, April 1970)
13.3 Ft/Sec
8.5 Ft/Sec
6 Ft/Sec
Freewing Light Aircraft
Normal Light Aircraft
Jet Transport
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13.3 Ft/Sec
40
Relative Comfort Level
(Source NASA CR-2046, June 1972)
8.5 Ft/Sec
4
6 Ft/Sec
1
0
Freewing Light Aircraft
Normal Light Aircraft
Jet Transport
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Honors Technology Awards
Freewing
Commercial communications and military
reconnaissance systems
Aerial Robotics Corp.