INTEGRATED AND/OR MODULAR HIGH-SPEED AIRCRAFT

An integrated and modular high-speed aircraft (200) and method of design and manufacture. The aircraft (200) can have a supersonic or near-sonic cruise Mach number. In one embodiment, the aircraft (200) can include an aft body integrated with a delta wing (204) and a rearwardly-tapering fuselage (202) to define a smooth forward-to-rear area distribution. A propulsion system (206), including an engine (216), inlet (220), and exhaust nozzle (222) can be integrated into the aft body to be at least partially hidden behind the wing (204). In one embodiment, the entrance of the inlet can be positioned beneath the wing (204), and the exit of the nozzle (222) can be positioned at or above the wing (204). An S-shaped inlet duct (221) can deliver air to the aft-mounted integrated engine. An integrated and/or modular high-speed aircraft and method of design and manufacture. The aircraft can have a supersonic or near-sonic cruise Mach number. In one embodiment, the aircraft can include an aft body integrated with a delta wing and a rearwardly tapering fuselage to define a smooth forward-to-rear area distribution. A propulsion system, including an engine, inlet, and exhaust nozzle can be integrated into the aft body to be at least partially hidden behind the wing. In one embodiment, the entrance of the inlet can be positioned beneath the wing, and the exit of the nozzle can be positioned at or above the wing. An S-shaped inlet duct can deliver air to the aft-mounted, integrated engine. The aircraft can include aft-mounted elevators, wing-mounted elevons, and forward-mounted canards for pitch control. The construction of the aircraft can be modular to take advantage of commonalties between near-sonic and supersonic structures. L'invention concerne un avion à grande vitesse modulaire et/ou intégré, et un procédé de conception et de fabrication. Cet avion peut posséder un numéro Mach de vol presque sonique ou supersonique. Dans un mode de réalisation, l'avion peut comprendre un corps arrière intégré à une aile delta et un fuselage conique s'étendant vers l'arrière, de manière à déboucher sur une distribution superficielle lisse de l'avant à l'arrière. On peut incorporer un système de propulsion, y compris un moteur, une buse d'entrée et de sortie, dans le corps arrière à dissimuler au moins partiellement derrière l'aile. Selon un mode de réalisation, l'orifice de l'entrée peut se situer au-dessous de l'aile, et la sortie de la buse peut se trouver au niveau de l'aile ou a