An aircraft includes at least one airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge. A number of pulse detonation engines are distributed along one of the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil and are positioned beneath the airfoil. Each pulse detonation engine is adapted for impulsively detonating a fuel/oxidizer mixture to generate a thrust force and to apply the thrust force to the aircraft. At least one of the pulse detonation engines is movably configured for altering a direction of the thrust force relative to the airfoil.