An STOL aircraft structure has a variable-attitude, variable-area wing in addition
to a traditional airfoil. The variable wing has an angle of attack that varies
from 0 to a predetermined angle far in excess of the stall angle. The variable
wing area can be adjusted from 0% to 100% by a roller furling arrangement. The
aircraft structure operates during takeoff by deploying the variable wing with
an attitude exceeding the stall angle, applying thrust to the aircraft so that
the variable wing generates reaction lift and the aircraft attains a predetermined
altitude, and stowing the variable wing so that the traditional airfoil is the
primary lifting surface. Those steps are reversed for landing.
