Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an aircraft that includes a cowling having a j-track mounted on the inwardly facing surface and a rod pivotally connected to a stationary part of the aircraft at a first end and moveable within the j-track at a second end, so that, when the cowling is opened, the second end moves to lock into the j-shaped portion and hold the cowling open. In various embodiments, the first end may be pivotally connected to the aircraft by a quick release pin, and the second end may be connected to the j-track by a torsion spring. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the cowling is a bi-folding cowl having an upper portion and a lower portion, where the rod and the lower portion may include structures for retaining the lower portion in an opened position.

Abstract: An aircraft, including a fixed nacelle disposed on a wing of the aircraft, the fixed nacelle including a nacelle opening; a proprotor pylon disposed on the wing and rotatable relative to the fixed nacelle between a substantially horizontal position and a non-horizontal position, wherein rotation of the proprotor pylon to a non-horizontal position exposes the nacelle opening; and a movable cover disposed on at least one of the wing and fixed nacelle, said movable cover including a plurality of cover members that are movable between a closed position where at least a portion of the cover members collectively form a protective cover in front of the nacelle opening when the proprotor pylon is positioned in the non-horizontal position and a stowed position where at least a portion of the plurality of cover members are stowed. In other aspects, there is provide a method of covering a nacelle opening.

Abstract: A rotorcraft includes a rotor hub coupled to a mast and a plurality of rotor extensions. Each rotor extension is configured to secure a rotor blade to the rotor hub and includes a first connector configured to attach the rotor extension to a rotor blade, a second connector configured to attach the rotor extension to the rotor hub; a shaft disposed between the first and second connectors, and a damper mount attached to the second connector. The rotorcraft also includes a fairing enclosing the damper and at least a portion of the rotor hub.

Abstract: An aircraft that is convertible between a helicopter mode and an airplane mode. The aircraft includes a fuselage with a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis and distributed propulsion array that surrounds the vertical axis when the aircraft is operating the helicopter mode and surrounds the longitudinal axis when the aircraft is operating in the airplane mode.

Abstract: A method of repairing a composite structure includes providing an assembled composite structure comprising a substantially rigid outer component, wherein the composite structure comprises a void space at least partially bounded by the outer component. The method further includes forming an injection hole through the outer component to provide a path between the void space and space external to the composite structure. The method further includes injecting foam into the void space through the injection hole while the foam is in a substantially unexpanded state and expanding the foam within the void space.

Abstract: A method of pitching rotor blades by interrupting torque applied to the hub.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for deploying an outboard rotor blade of proprotor pylon to act as an extended lifting surface. Blade control actuators may provide primary rotor flight control as well as providing fold linkage actuation when fold locks are disengaged. During cruise flight, the blade control actuator may provide feathering inputs to the extended rotor blade, wherein the amplitude and frequency of feathering inputs are tuned to mitigate undesirable wing and fuselage dynamic modes thereby enhancing aircraft stability. The deployed rotor blades also improve the total lifting area of the aircraft, which may increase aircraft range and efficiency.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for determining an optimal engine inlet area to minimize spillage drag. An algorithm may utilize aircraft parameters, aircraft performance charts, and engine models to determine the engine inlet area as a function of engine air mass flow, airspeed, and air density at current ambient conditions.

Abstract: A differential thrust vectoring system including a first thruster rotation assembly configured to rotate a first thruster relative of an aircraft, a second thruster rotation assembly configured to rotate a second thruster of an aircraft, and an actuator. The system is configured such that actuation of the actuator causes disparate rotation about the tilt axis of the first and second thrusters.

Abstract: An air-cooled fuel-cell freeze-protection system for a rotorcraft using a controller to vary a heating system for an air-cooled fuel cell. The heating system heats supply air for the air-cooled fuel cell, and a butterfly valve varies a pressure of the supply air to the air-cooled fuel cell. The heating system can be an electric heater, a heat exchanger, or a combination of heater and heat exchanger.

Abstract: A rotor mast including an outer member defining a channel therethrough and an inner member disposed in the channel through the outer member, wherein the inner member is configured to apply a compressive force to the outer member.

Abstract: A system includes an engine cover covering a side-facing rotorcraft engine and having an opening and an ice protection member mounted on the engine cover between the opening and the engine, an area of the ice protection member smaller than an area of the opening. The ice protection member is configured to partially cover the opening to prevent ice having a particular size from entering into the engine and to allow air flow downstream into the engine.

Abstract: A method of blade fold for a tiltrotor aircraft includes configuring the tiltrotor aircraft in a flight ready position with a rotor system in an inverted-Y position, unlocking a first rotor blade of the rotor system to permit the first rotor blade to pivot relative to a yoke of the rotor system, restraining the first rotor blade to allow the first rotor blade to pivot relative to the yoke as the yoke is rotated, rotating the rotor system in a first direction so that the first rotor blade pivots closer to a second rotor blade, rotating the rotor system in a second direction to orient the rotor system into a modified inverted-Y position, unlocking a third rotor blade to allow the third rotor blade to pivot relative to the yoke as the yoke is rotated, and rotating the rotor system in the second direction so that the third rotor blade pivots closer to the second rotor blade.

Abstract: In a first aspect, there is a helicopter skid landing gear assembly including a front cross tube configured to interconnect two skid tubes; and a rear cross tube configured to interconnect two skid tubes; wherein at least one of the cross tubes comprises a monolithic metallic tube having a cross-section with a round exterior shape and an elliptical hollow portion therein. In a second aspect, there is a method for retrofitting a helicopter with a landing gear assembly; the method including providing a front cross tube and a rear cross tube, at least one of the front cross tube and the rear cross tube comprises a monolithic metallic tube having a cross-section with a substantially round exterior shape and an elliptical hollow portion therein; and connecting the front cross tube and rear cross tube to a fuselage.

Abstract: One embodiment is a bearing carrier assembly including a circular shield having top and bottom surfaces; and a number of bearing separators integrated with the bottom surface of the shield, wherein each pair of bearing separators defines a receptacle for receiving and retaining a bearing therewithin and wherein the shield blocks the received bearings from debris and retains lubricant around the received bearings. Each of the bearing separators may include a spacer element for separating adjacent ones of the bearings. The bearing carrier assembly may be made up of a number of carrier sections that interconnect to form the bearing carrier assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems of locating an object of interest with a hyperspectral imaging system include placing a hyperspectral tag on the object of interest. A hyperspectral camera then then collects light emitted by an area of interest. An analyzer unit of the hyperspectral imaging system processes the collected light emitted by the area of interest into a hyperspectral image. The hyperspectral image includes a data file that includes information regarding a spectral response at each pixel of the first hyperspectral image. The analyzer unit then compares the spectral response at a first pixel of the hyperspectral image with the spectral response of the hyperspectral tag. Based upon the comparison, the analyzer unit generates an identity of the object of interest.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tiltrotor aircraft may comprise a fuselage; a biplane wing coupled to the fuselage, wherein the biplane wing comprises an upper wing structure and a lower wing structure; a plurality of tiltrotors coupled to the biplane wing; and at least one engine to power the plurality of tiltrotors.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is a method of making a composite skin for a tiltrotor aircraft including providing a first skin in a mold, the first skin having a periphery defined by a forward edge, an aft edge, and outboard ends; providing a plurality of honeycomb panels having an array of large cells onto the first skin, each cell having a width of at least 1 cm; assembling the plurality of honeycomb panels along the longitudinal axis of the first skin to form a honeycomb core having an outer perimeter within the periphery of the first skin; positioning a second skin onto the honeycomb core, the second skin having an outer perimeter within the periphery of the first skin; and curing an adhesive to create a bond between the first skin, the honeycomb core, and the second skin to form a composite skin.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for preventing aircraft rollover upon a water landing comprising: a deployable first and/or second boom affixed by a first end to the aircraft and capable of deployment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft; and a first and/or second air bladder attached to a second end of the first and/or second boom, wherein the first and/or second air bladders are configured to inflate when an aircraft lands in the water, wherein deployment of the first and second boom and air bladder prevents aircraft rollover upon water landing; or a deployable keel affixed by a first end to the aircraft and capable of deployment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and opposite a rotor of the aircraft upon a water landing, wherein the keel is sized to prevent aircraft rollover upon deployment; or both.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for managing electrical load in an aircraft comprising a generator coupled to an aircraft engine, and a power distribution controller configured to monitor current engine operating parameters and to reduce an electrical load on the generator when the engine operating parameters reach a limit during specified aircraft operating conditions. The system may further comprise a non-essential electrical bus coupled to the generator, wherein the electrical load on the generator is reduced by disconnecting the non-essential bus from the generator. The generator may be coupled to the aircraft engine via an accessory gearbox or a transmission gearbox. The monitored current engine operating parameters comprise one or more of an engine torque, a gas generator RPM, and a temperature. The aircraft operating conditions may comprise one or more of a takeoff, a landing, or an engine failure.