Appeal 2007-1831
Application 10/313,052
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The patent to Arnold is directed to structural components for the
fuselage skin of commercial aircraft. The structural component is
comprised of aluminum honeycomb and several sheets of carbon
fiber with an aluminum or copper foil exterior. This composite
structure is able to reduce lightning strike damage. The examiner
has cited Arnold to show a conventional aircraft with wings and a
tail.
2. Sigalla teaches an aircraft tail section with a drag inducing vertical
tail fin to compensate for the tendency of the aircraft to pitch down
into the “Mach tuck” effect. The Examiner has cited Sigalla to show
an aircraft with conventional wings and a tail.
3. Burnelli discloses a tailless airplane. The tailless airplane or flying
wing of Burnelli does not possess a conventional tail structure and
instead relies on vertical stabilizers 13 carried on the tips of the
wings.
4. Burhans teaches a gull wing aircraft with a wing of inverted V-shape
but lacking the conventional empennage or tail section of a
conventional aircraft. We note that Burhans has fully adequate
directional stability and control while lacking the conventional tail.
Burhans relies on ailerons 41-44 or 45-48 to provide control of
pitch, yaw and roll.
5. Mitchell discloses an aircraft with conventional control surfaces and
auxiliary control surfaces placed adjacent the conventional control
surfaces to either assist or replace the conventional controlling
4
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