Abstract: A kit of parts for forming an aerofoil structure including a torsion box for use in attaching a fixed leading or trailing edge structure to the torsion box, and a fixed leading or trailing edge structure attachable to the torsion box. The torsion box includes a first mounting feature. The fixed leading or trailing edge structure includes a second mounting feature configured to engage with the first mounting feature. The first mounting feature and the second mounting feature are mutually configured to permit the first and second mounting features to be moved into engagement with each other along a first direction, and to prevent relative movement of the first and second mounting features along a second direction when the first and second mounting features are engaged with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting a dimension parameter relating to a value of a shock absorber dimension of an extension of a shock absorber of an aircraft landing gear. The apparatus includes a processor configured to identify a respective range of values relating to each of a plurality of operating characteristics under which the shock absorber may operate, and identify a respective probability distribution of values for each of the operating characteristics within the identified ranges. The processor is also configured to perform a generation process for generating a plurality of values of the shock absorber dimension by repeatedly selecting, as input into a computer-implemented model for determining a value of the shock absorber dimension, a value of each of the operating characteristics based on the respective probability distributions, and determining a given value of the shock absorber dimension using the selected values and the computer-implemented model.

Abstract: A hydraulic system 300 for an aircraft including a backup hydraulic pressure source 216 to provide hydraulic pressure to a brake 222 in the event of a failure condition of a primary hydraulic brake pressure source. The hydraulic system 300 also includes a landing gear backup system to provide hydraulic pressure to enable extension and/or retraction of landing gear 100. The backup hydraulic pressure source 216 is arranged to provide hydraulic pressure to the landing gear backup system in the event of a failure condition of a primary landing gear hydraulic pressure source.

Abstract: An aircraft assembly is disclosed having a wing tip device connected to a wing tip of a wing by a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector. The wing tip device includes a front device spar and a rear device spar. The first connector is associated with the rear device spar. The second connector is spaced apart in a chordwise direction forward of the first connector, and the third connector is spaced apart in a chordwise direction rearward of the first connector. The third connector includes a spigot mounting formation.

Abstract: A method and portable apparatus for servicing a shock absorber on a landing gear assembly of an aircraft in a weight-on-wheels state is disclosed. The shock absorber includes at least one chamber containing both hydraulic fluid and a gas in fluid communication with each other. The apparatus includes a source of gas and a source of hydraulic fluid. The amount of hydraulic fluid in the chamber is corrected, preferably such that the chamber is then filled with a known amount of degassed hydraulic fluid. A pre-set mass of gas is then delivered into the chamber under the control of a gas delivery system of the portable apparatus. More accurate servicing of a shock absorber may thus be provided since account is additionally taken of gas dissolved in hydraulic fluid. By delivering a pre-set mass of gas into the chamber, there is no need to rely on a measure of gas pressure or H-dimension (h) when servicing the shock absorber.

Abstract: A spark containment cap for forming a sealed cavity around an end of a fastener protruding from a structure is disclosed having a cap body with an annular base terminating at a rim which surrounds an opening into an air cavity arranged to enclose the end of the fastener. An annular sealing volume extends around the rim arranged to receive an annular bead of a curable sealing material around the opening into the cavity to provide a seal between the cap body and the structure to seal a volume of gas within the cavity. An engaging feature is configured to engage with the end of the fastener to prevent rotation of the fastener relative to the cap when the end of the fastener is received by the cap. A fastening system, a joint, an aircraft and a method of securing a fastener and a spark containment cap to a structure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for servicing a shock absorber on a landing gear assembly of an aircraft in a weight-on-wheels state is disclosed. The shock absorber includes at least one chamber containing both hydraulic fluid and a gas in fluid communication with each other. The apparatus includes a source of gas and a source of hydraulic fluid. The amount of hydraulic fluid in the chamber is corrected, preferably such that the chamber is then filled with a known amount of degassed hydraulic fluid. The process may be at least semi-automatically performed, for example under the control of a control unit. By delivering a pre-set mass of gas into the chamber, there is no need to rely on a measure of gas pressure or H-dimension (h) when servicing the shock absorber, and more accurate servicing of a shock absorber may thus be provided.

Abstract: A leading edge structure for providing an aerodynamic surface of an aircraft is disclosed having a skin structure, the skin structure providing an outer aerodynamic surface and an inner surface, both surfaces extending in a chordwise and spanwise direction of the structure, and a plurality of structural members, each structural member being connected to the inner surface of the skin structure and extending in the chordwise direction along the inner surface, wherein the structural members are integrally formed with the inner surface of the skin structure. The disclosure is also related to an aircraft wing, aircraft tailplane, wing box structure, wing or wing structure and an aircraft including the leading edge structure.

Abstract: An aerodynamic structure for use on an upper surface of an aircraft wing is disclosed. The wing includes a slat operable between a stowed configuration in which the slat is stowed in a slat recess of the wing, and a deployed configuration in which the slat extends out of the slat recess. When the slat is in the deployed configuration, an end face of the slat recess is exposed, the end face intersecting with the upper surface of the wing at a recess edge. The aerodynamic structure, adjacent to the recess edge, has a volume shaped to encourage air flowing over the recess edge onto the upper surface during flight, to remain attached.

Abstract: A composite stiffener for a stiffener reinforced panel is disclosed. The stiffener has a longitudinal direction and a run-out region which terminates at an end of the stiffener. The stiffener also has a constant section region inboard of the run-out region in the longitudinal direction and having a constant cross section transverse to the longitudinal direction with a crown between adjacent foot portions. The run-out region has a changing cross section transverse to the longitudinal direction with a crown between adjacent foot portions and the crown reduces in height towards the end of the stiffener forming a ramp. The composite stiffener includes a number of blankets of non-crimp fabric layers.

Abstract: A control mechanism includes an existing aerodynamic device, such as a slat 5, that moves between at least one deployed position and a retracted position; and a load-alleviation mechanism 10 arranged to move the aerodynamic device into a load-alleviation position in response to a load 18, such as a gust of wind acting over a predetermined threshold. During flight, an aircraft can experience gusts of wind that cause strain on the wings 4. The addition of a load-alleviation mechanism to a pre-existing aircraft component allows for gust loading to be alleviated without adding significantly to the weight or complexity of the aircraft. The control mechanism may be retro-fitted to existing aircraft.

Abstract: A retractable landing gear assembly for an aircraft includes a leg mounted to airframe structure for rotation about a pivot axis. A stay assembly is provided for maintaining the landing gear assembly in a deployed, for example down and unlocked, configuration. The stay assembly has a linkage mechanism including a first stay and a second stay movable between a folded state and an unfolded state. Room that would otherwise be occupied within a landing gear bay may be freed up above the landing gear leg when in a stowed configuration by the stay assembly being unfolded but generally aligned with the length of the landing gear leg, with the stay assembly being mostly positioned beneath the leg.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly (112) including a shock absorber strut (114), a bogie (120), a link assembly (124), and a movement detector (132). The shock absorber strut includes an upper and a lower telescoping parts (118, 116), the upper part being connectable to the airframe of an aircraft and the lower part being connected to the bogie such that the bogie may adopt different pitch angles. The link assembly extends between the upper and lower telescoping parts, such that relative movement between the upper and lower telescoping parts causes relative movement between parts of the link assembly. The movement detector is arranged to detect movement of the link assembly relative to the bogie. The movement detector detects movement by sensing a change in linear displacement of, or angle between, one or more members.

Abstract: An aerodynamic structure comprising an aerodynamic surface. The aerodynamic surface is formed by a first part of the aerodynamic structure; a second part of the aerodynamic structure; and a sealed gap between the first part and the second part. The sealed gap contains a sealant material and a support material.

Abstract: A slat (108) for the leading edge of a swept aircraft wing includes slat tracks (114) that dictate the path of movement of the slat as it moves from a retracted position (FIG. 7) to a fully deployed position (FIG. 15). Each slat track (114) has a shape that follows a helical path. The motion of the slat thus includes a component of rotation about a first axis, which may be perpendicular to the line of flight (120) and a component of translational movement parallel to the first axis. When viewed from above the slat may move predominantly in a direction parallel to the line of flight (120).

Abstract: An aircraft wing having a fixed root part hingedly connected to a moveable tip part is disclosed. The tip part is configured to pivot relative to the root part about a substantially horizontal axis, between a load-alleviating configuration in which the tip part is oriented relative to the root part such that at least one of the upper and lower surface of the tip part is positioned away from the respective surface of the root part and a flight configuration in which the upper and lower surfaces of the tip part are continuations of the upper and lower surfaces of the root part. The shape of the tip part is controllably switchable between a cruise shape in which the tip part has positive camber and a recovery shape in which the tip part has negative camber.

Abstract: A fuel tank inerting module, a fuel tank inerting system for an aircraft, and a method of providing fuel tank inerting systems for aircraft are disclosed. The module includes an inlet for ullage gas from a fuel tank, a catalyst, an outlet for the ODA, sensors, filters and valves. The module is sized and shaped to fit in a range of positions near to fuel tanks in various aircraft. The inerting system includes one or more modules connected to the fuel tanks and a controller to control passage of ullage and ODA between the fuel tanks and the modules. The method includes providing an inert gas generation module compatible with any suitable aircraft, positioning one or more modules in an aircraft at locations near to a fuel tank to be inerted.

Abstract: A spar assembly for an aircraft wing extends between an upper cover and a lower cover and includes linkages spaced consecutively along the length of the spar assembly, each linkage extending from an upper pivot, to a lower pivot, thereby joining upper and lower attachment structures of the spar assembly together. Each linkage includes a pair of fixed-length links pivotably connected at one end about a center pivot and pivotably connected at respective other ends. The spar assembly includes a drive bar connected to the center pivot of each of the linkages, and an actuator arranged to move the drive bar along the length of the spar assembly. When the actuator moves the drive bar along the length of the spar structure, the links in each pair of links are rotated relative to each other about the center pivot, thereby moving the upper and lower covers and warping the wing.

Abstract: An aircraft is disclosed having a wing, the wing having a fixed wing with a wing tip device moveably mounted about a hinge at the tip thereof. The wing tip device is operable between a flight configuration, and a load alleviating configuration for load alleviation during flight. The aircraft includes a restraining assembly operable between a restraining mode in which the wing tip device is held in the flight configuration using a restraining force such as by a brake, and a releasing mode in which the restraining force on the wing tip device is released, such that the wing tip device may adopt the load alleviating configuration.

Abstract: A brake temperature sensing system for an aircraft including a sensor apparatus and an interrogation apparatus. The sensor apparatus includes a temperature sensor for attachment to a brake disc of an aircraft brake, and a relay for attachment to the brake. The temperature sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit a measurement signal containing information relating to a temperature of the brake disc, responsive to receiving a wireless interrogation signal. The relay is configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogation apparatus; wirelessly transmit the interrogation signal to the temperature sensor; receive the wireless measurement signal from the temperature sensor; and transmit the received measurement signal. The interrogation apparatus comprises a controller configured to generate an interrogation signal; and a transceiver configured to transmit the generated interrogation signal to the sensor apparatus; and receive the measurement signal transmitted by the sensor apparatus.