An unmanned air vehicle ("UAV") apparatus is configured to have a body and a
body-conformal
wing. The body-conformal wing is configured to variably sweep from a closed position
to a fully deployed position. In the closed position, the body-conformal wing span
is aligned with the body axis and in the fully deployed position the body-conformal
wing span is perpendicular to the axial direction of the body. Delivery of the
UAV comprises the steps of: positioning the span of a body conformal wing in alignment
with the axis of the body of the UAV; initiating the flight of the UAV; and adjusting
the sweep angle of the body-conformal wing as a function of the current speed,
altitude, or attack angle of the UAV, with the adjustment starting at a 0 degree
position and varying between a closed position and a fully deployed position. The
UAV also has a control mechanism configured to variably adjust the sweep of the
body-conformal wing to achieve a high lift over drag ratio through out the flight
path of the UAV.
