deflected-thrust aircraft

aeronautics

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Deflected-thrust aircraft are a type of VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft that can change the direction of their propulsion system's thrust. This allows them to take off and land vertically in areas that are only slightly larger than the aircraft itself.1

One successful example is the British Harrier jet, which has engines mounted horizontally. Their blast is deflected downward to provide vertical thrust for takeoff. Other types of deflected-thrust aircraft include those with large propellers that exert thrust against a deflected wing, tilt-wing designs where the entire wing rotates, tilt-duct systems, and tilt-propellers. These designs aim to combine the vertical lift capabilities of helicopters with the speed of conventional airplanes.12

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helicopter
Convertiplanes
…first of these are the deflected thrust type, in which large propellers exert thrust against a wing deflected into a broad arc. The second type is the tilt wing. In these aircraft, the wing is rotated to point the propellers vertically for takeoff and landing, then adjusted for horizontal flight…
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…first of these are the deflected thrust type, in which large propellers exert thrust against a wing deflected into a broad arc. The second type is the tilt wing. In these aircraft, the wing is rotated to point the propellers vertically for takeoff and landing, then adjusted for horizontal flight…
Read More