Civil Applications of High Speed Rotorcraft and Powered Lift Aircraft Configurations

Advanced subsonic vertical and short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft configurations offer new transportation options for civil applications. This paper describes a range of vehicles from low-disk to high-disk loading aircraft, including high-speed rotorcraft, V/STOL aircraft, and short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft. The status and advantages of the various configurations are described. Some of these configurations show promise for relieving congestion in high population density regions and providing transportation opportunities for low population density regions.