An aircraft is disclosed that comprises a fuselage with first and second
wings non-rotatably secured to and extending from sides of the fuselage.
Inner and outer tracks are secured to and encircle the fuselage, and
airfoils are operably secured between the inner and outer tracks. Means
are provided for rotating the airfoils. The means for rotating the
airfoils may be comprised of first and second drive coils, and first and
second alternators may be operably coupled to the first and second drive
coils, respectively, to provide redundant power supplies. Permanent
magnets in the rotor hub may be arranged in a Halbach array or may be
arranged to provide a series of alternating, opposite magnetic poles.
Separate drive and suspension coils may be provided in the stator. The
concept may find further application in a lift fan or tail section of
conventional aircraft. In that regard, a lift fan or tail section may be
provided in which a stator magnetically levitates a lift fan rotor or
tail rotor. The stator may include suspension coils and drive coils to
eliminate the need for a drive shaft and gears to power the lift fan
rotor or tail rotor.