Abstract: A vehicle region with a roof section of a primary structure and with two luggage compartments. One of the luggage compartments comprises a detachable luggage compartment flap and a luggage compartment top, which forms the upper boundary of a part of a luggage space. A detachable fastening device can rotatably fasten the luggage compartment flap on the luggage compartment. A front edge of the luggage compartment top is at a distance from an end point in an intermediate space above a luggage compartment, to which end point a side of a ceiling panel is movable, the distance being greater than or equal to a width of the ceiling panel. Methods for installing and removing a ceiling panel above two luggage compartments are provided, wherein the ceiling panel is guided at least partially through a luggage space of a luggage compartment when the luggage compartment flap has been removed.

Abstract: A cryogenic fuel tank for retrofitting a conventional fossil-fuel-powered aircraft, or for a purposely built aircraft to run on hydrogen has an aerodynamically shaped outer surface including an ogive shaped nose cone, and a tapered tail cone, wherein the tapered tail cone includes actively adjustable elements for adjusting aerodynamic characteristics of the cryogenic fuel tank. The cryogenic fuel tank is configured to be attached below wings of the aircraft, through support pylons, which include sensors configured to measure forces applied by the cryogenic fuel tank to the airframe. The cryogenic fuel tank includes a nozzle and valve configured to vent gas from the cryogenic fuel tank by expansion through the nozzle in the event that the cryogenic fuel tank is jettisoned from the aircraft.

Abstract: A joint for connecting a center wing box to a bulkhead of an aircraft. The joint includes a flex angle member with a first section shaped to abut against and be connected to the center wing box, a second section shaped to abut against and be connected to a first side of the deck of the bulkhead, and an intermediate rounded corner positioned between the first and second sections. First support members are attached to the center wing box at first pins and support a first side of the second section of the flex angle member. Second support members are attached to the web of the bulkhead at second pins and support a second side of the second section of the flex angle member. The first support members are positioned on a first side of the deck of the bulkhead and the second support members are positioned on an opposing second side of the deck.

Abstract: A safe, quiet, easy to control, efficient, and compact aircraft configuration is enabled through the combination of multiple vertical lift rotors, tandem wings, and forward thrust propellers. The vertical lift rotors, in combination with a front and rear wing, permits a balancing of the center of lift with the center of gravity for both vertical and horizontal flight. This wing and multiple rotor system has the ability to tolerate a relatively large variation of the payload weight for hover, transition, or cruise flight while also providing vertical thrust redundancy. The propulsion system uses multiple lift rotors and forward thrust propellers of a small enough size to be shielded from potential blade strike and provide increased perceived and real safety to the passengers. Using multiple independent rotors provides redundancy and the elimination of single point failure modes that can make the vehicle non-operable in flight.

Abstract: System for multiple use of space rockets equipped with spreadable arms and sliding engines covers, and for said space rockets a vertical landing method on two movable gantries situated on a specific sea ship or on a solid ground. Said space rockets comprise steering flaps and a dividable sectional load cover. The specific sea ship comprises specific joined hulls, two horizontally movable decks and tunnels with ballasting wagons. The specific sea ship has installed a landing station for the space rockets. The landing station comprises hangers, grasping wagons and two movable ship gantries. The hangers comprise rotating wedges. The gantries comprise damping wagons. The system comprises also two movable ground gantries and a specific movable ground crane all situated on a solid ground that together create a multi-task station for the space rockets hanging up, reloading, launching, and landing.

Abstract: Improvements to ice protection systems as disclosed herein include monitoring ice accretion intensity based on atmospheric conditions proximate to a vehicle. Examples of parameters that measure atmospheric conditions include a water content and a size distribution of an atmosphere around a vehicle. These parameters, along with other vehicle parameters, are used to control at least one ice protection element to reduce ice accretion intensity at one or more designated locations of the vehicle. Incorporating measurements of cloud conditions enables nuanced control of the ice protection system and improves overall system efficiency of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method include a first icing detector configured to detect a first icing condition in relation to one or more portions of an aircraft. The first icing detector is configured to output a first icing signal indicative of the first icing condition. A second icing detector is configured to detect a second icing condition in relation to the one or more portions of the aircraft. The second icing detector is configured to output a second icing signal indicative of the second icing condition. A control unit is in communication with the first icing detector and the second icing detector. The control unit is configured to receive the first icing signal from the first icing detector and the second icing signal from the second icing detector. The control unit is further configured to distinguish between presence of supercooled liquid water and ice crystal icing in response to receiving one or both of the first icing signal or the second icing signal.

Abstract: Current foot-launched 2-stroke commercial PPG offerings can meet the specified threshold (and in some cases, objective) requirements for flight ceiling, payload capacity and range with little to no modification. We will discuss those in the next section. The APES system enhances the effectiveness and lethality of the PPG-equipped unit by reducing weight of the PPG, increasing reliability and redundancy, reducing pilot workload, and seamlessly integrating with UAV's and UGV's. System improvements in the following areas is assessed: Series hybrid-electric powertrain, Coaxial propellers. Localization, autopilot, and formations, Auto landing and other advanced features, Integration with unmanned systems, and Launch Considerations.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an ice protection system of a rotorcraft or an aircraft includes applying heat to rotating blades of the rotorcraft or the aircraft according to a heater duty cycle and determining an anticipated ice shed time for ice to shed from the rotating blades. Torque of the rotating blades is sensed, and an actual ice shed time for ice to shed from the rotating blades is determined based on the sensed torque. A status of the ice protection system is determined based on the anticipated ice shed time and the actual ice shed time, and the status of the ice protection system is output for consumption by a consuming system.

Abstract: Aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, hovering, and efficient forward flight are described. An aircraft includes two side mounted tiltable proprotors and a central rotor disposed above the proprotors. The proprotors are tiltable between at least a horizontal position for forward flight and a vertical position for vertical or hovering flight. The central rotor may be powered for vertical and transitional flight modes and may turn by free autorotation during forward flight. The proprotors may be differentially tilted during vertical or hovering flight to counter torque effects of the central rotor. The central rotor may be foldable and/or easily detachable from the aircraft to facilitate storage and transportation. Left and right proprotors may provide both forward thrust and attitude control. Control inputs to left and right proprotors may be connected directly to an autopilot creating closed loop actuation using motor RPM feedback.

Abstract: A supplemental wing for a rotary wing aircraft rotates about a pitch axis between a forward flight position and a hover position. The supplemental wing generates lift and generates both positive and negative pitching moments that balance and that may passively rotate the supplemental wing to an equilibrium position. The supplemental wing may use power assist to overcome friction to move to the equilibrium position. The lift generated by the supplemental wing reduces at high forward speeds to preserve main rotor control authority. The supplemental wing rotates to avoid aft translation when in the hover position. The supplemental wing may be retrofitted to existing helicopters and flown using existing helicopter controls without pilot re-training.

Abstract: An installation configuration for a ram air turbine on an aircraft arranged to operate during a low speed operation. An example aircraft includes a fuselage and a lifting body connected to the fuselage and configured to provide a lifting force on the fuselage, the lifting body including a suction surface and a pressure surface disposed on opposite sides of the lifting body from each other, the suction surface extending from a leading edge of the lifting body to a trailing edge of the lifting body. A ram air turbine is coupled to the lifting body and configured to move between a retracted position where the ram air turbine is stowed inside the aircraft and an extended position where the ram air turbine is disposed above the suction surface of the lifting body.

Abstract: A blade for a rotor of a hover-capable aircraft is described comprising: a main body with a first outer surface; and a de-icing system for removing ice; the de-icing system, in turn, comprises: a first layer formed by a shape-memory material activatable so as to alter its shape according to a temperature-associable quantity, which is arranged on at least one outer surface of the main body; the de-icing system is characterized in that it comprises a second covering layer, which defines at least a portion of a second outer surface of the blade on which ice deposits; the second layer laid on top of the first layer on the opposite side of the main body is selectively movable under the action of the first layer so as to exert a mechanical action on the ice and remove it from the blade, and is adapted to protect the first layer from external agents.

Abstract: A tail sitter aircraft is described that comprises: a fuselage arranged vertically in a take-off/landing position and transversely to a vertical direction in a cruising position of the aircraft; a single wing; at least two first engines configured to exert respective first thrusts directed along respective first axes on the tail sitter; and at least two second engines rotating about respective second axes arranged above said first axes of the first engines, with reference to the cruising position; the at least two second engines being configured to exert respective second thrusts directed along respective second axes on the tail sitter; the first and second engines being carried by the single wing; the single wing comprises a first portion and a second portion mutually staggered from one another; the second portion being arranged above said first portion, with reference to said cruising position; said first portion comprises two half-wings, extending from opposite lateral sides of the fuselage; the wing furth

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft cabin having a longitudinal axis and comprising at least one aisle and an arrangement of seat units, a seat unit comprising, in particular, a seat provided with a base and a backrest as well as a foot area, the seat being movable between a sitting position and a lying position, the arrangement of seat units comprising: at least one rear group of two seat units, at least one front group of two seat units, each group of two seat units comprising a seat unit arranged on the side of the aisle and referred to as the “aisle-side seat unit” and a seat unit arranged on the side of a window and referred to as the “window-side seat unit”, each seat of a group of seat units having an axis forming a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin, such that the seats of each group are facing the aisle, a first passage for accessing the aisle associated with the window-side seat unit of the rear group extending between the foot area and the seat of the

Abstract: An anti-icing system may comprise a deicing boot of an elastomeric material comprising a plurality of tubes, wherein the deicing boot comprises a first set of tubes and a second set of tubes, wherein each of the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes have a corresponding end, and wherein the corresponding end is coupled to a continuous dual wrap end closure.

Abstract: A spacecraft includes a semi-rigid solar array and a main body structure, the main body structure configured as a convex polyhedron and including an aft and a forward face disposed opposite to the aft face and at least four side faces disposed between and approximately orthogonal to the aft face and the forward face. The solar array includes a number of panels linked together with flexible couplings. In an undeployed configuration, panels of the solar array cover at least two adjacent side faces, the flexible couplings providing an articulable joint approximately aligned with a line along which the two adjacent side faces are joined and connecting a first panel of the solar array and a second panel of the solar array, the first panel being proximal to a first side face and the second panel being proximal to a second side face.

Abstract: A guided projectile includes a body and a deployable wing in which the deployable wing is coupled to and enclosed by the body. A linear distance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the wing defines a chord line that, in the stowed position, forms an angle with a plane containing the chord line and extending parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the wing in a deployed position.

Abstract: A refueling system has a vehicle having a fuel tank connected to a deployable fuel hose, an end effector having controlled flight, the fuel hose connected at an end away from the first vehicle, through the end effector to a fuel connector under the end effector, a second vehicle having a fuel tank coupled through a pumping apparatus to a fueling port on an acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire the end effector and connect the fueling port and the fuel connector of the end effector, and control circuitry enabling controlled flight of the end effector, wherein the end effector is controlled to be acquired by the acquisition apparatus to couple the fuel connector with the fueling port and fuel is provided from the fuel tank of one of the vehicles to the fuel tank of the other of the vehicles through the pumping apparatus.

Abstract: An airframe 1 or part thereof comprises a set of modular cells 10, including a first cell 10A comprising a set of profiles 100 including: a first structural profile 100A, having a first length L1 and enclosing a first volume V1 providing a first passageway P1; and a second profile 100B, having a second length L2 and enclosing a second volume V2, wherein the first passageway P1 is arranged to receive the second profile 100B therein.