Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade and a wind turbine incorporating the rotor blade include a first and second composite skin. A first and a second spar pultrusion having a base and a plurality of integral ribs generally normal to base are attached to the inside surface of the first and second composite skins and extend the span of the rotor blade. At least one shear web connects a rib of the first spar pultrusion to a corresponding rib of the second spar pultrusion. The width of the spar pultrusions decreases in a step-wise fashion along the span of the rotor blade from the root to the tip. The leading or trailing edge of the rotor blade may be selectably opened for inspection and repair.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade and a wind turbine incorporating the rotor blade include a first and second composite skin. A first and a second spar pultrusion having a base and a plurality of integral ribs generally normal to base are attached to the inside surface of the first and second composite skins and extend the span of the rotor blade. At least one shear web connects a rib of the first spar pultrusion to a corresponding rib of the second spar pultrusion. The width of the spar pultrusions decreases in a step-wise fashion along the span of the rotor blade from the root to the tip. The leading or trailing edge of the rotor blade may be selectably opened for inspection and repair.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade and a wind turbine incorporating the rotor blade include a first and second composite skin. A first and a second spar pultrusion having a base and a plurality of integral ribs generally normal to the base are attached to the inside surface of the first and second composite skins and extend the span of the rotor blade. At least one shear web connects a rib of the first spar pultrusion to a corresponding rib of the second spar pultrusion. The width of the spar pultrusions decreases in a step-wise fashion along the span of the rotor blade from the root to the tip. The leading or trailing edge of the rotor blade may be selectably opened for inspection and repair.

Abstract: An unmanned air module includes one or more rotors, engines, a transmission and avionics. Any of several different ground modules may be attached to the air module. The air module may fly with and without the ground module attached. The ground module may be a vehicle ground module and may be manned. The vehicle ground module may transport the attached air module across the ground. The air module may have two rotors, which may be ducted fans, and three different configurations: a tandem rotor configuration, a side-by-side configuration, and a tilted-rotor configuration.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade and a wind turbine incorporating the rotor blade include a first and second composite skin. A first and a second spar pultrusion having a base and a plurality of integral ribs generally normal to the base are attached to the inside surface of the first and second composite skins and extend the span of the rotor blade. At least one shear web connects a rib of the first spar pultrusion to a corresponding rib of the second spar pultrusion. The width of the spar pultrusions decreases in a step-wise fashion along the span of the rotor blade from the root to the tip. The leading or trailing edge of the rotor blade may be selectably opened for inspection and repair.

Abstract: A compound aircraft features variable incidence wings, a thruster, a rotor and a clutch connecting the engines to the rotor. Upon reaching a suitable forward speed, the control system of the compound aircraft unloads the rotor and disengages the clutch, disconnecting the rotor from the engines. The control system configures the cyclic and collective pitch effectors to cause the rotor to autorotate. The control system selects an autorotation rotational speed that is adequately rapid to prevent excessive deformation of the rotor blades due to aerodynamic forces acting on the blade and that is adequately slow to prevent excessive compressibility effects.

Abstract: The Invention is a rotary-wing aircraft having at least two vectored thrusters that may be tilted from a horizontal to a vertical position and to positions intermediate between the horizontal and vertical positions. The two vectored thrusters are equipped with propellers having separately variable pitch. The two vectored thrusters also are equipped with vanes having selectable vane angles to direct separately the air flow from the two vectored thrusters. A control system detects the flight condition of the aircraft and selects vectored thruster control settings corresponding to the detected flight condition and consistent with predetermined control rules to provide lift, thrust, yaw moments and roll moments.

Abstract: A wind turbine has a horizontal axis of rotation and features a hub beam and two turbine blades attached to opposing ends of the hub beam in a spaced-apart relation. The blades have a first position in which the blades are radially arrayed about the hub beam. The blades have a second position in which the blades are folded and moored to the tower. A control system communicates with weather sensors and determines whether to move the blades between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A wind turbine has a horizontal axis of rotation and features a hub beam and two turbine blades attached to opposing ends of the hub beam in a spaced-apart relation. The blades have a first position in which the blades are radially arrayed about the hub beam. The blades have a second position in which the blades are folded and moored to the tower. A control system communicates with weather sensors and determines whether to move the blades between the first and second positions.

Abstract: The Invention is a rotary-wing aircraft having at least two vectored thrusters that may be tilted from a horizontal to a vertical position and to positions intermediate between the horizontal and vertical positions. The two vectored thrusters are equipped with propellers having separately variable pitch. The two vectored thrusters also are equipped with vanes having selectable vane angles to direct separately the air flow from the two vectored thrusters. A control system detects the flight condition of the aircraft and selects vectored thruster control settings corresponding to the detected flight condition and consistent with predetermined control rules to provide lift, thrust, yaw moments and roll moments.

Abstract: The Invention is a rotary-wing aircraft having at least two vectored thrusters that may be tilted from a horizontal to a vertical position and to positions intermediate between the horizontal and vertical positions. The two vectored thrusters are equipped with propellers having separately variable pitch. The two vectored thrusters also are equipped with vanes having selectable vane angles to direct separately the air flow from the two vectored thrusters. A control system detects the flight condition of the aircraft and selects vectored thruster control settings corresponding to the detected flight condition and consistent with predetermined control rules to provide lift, thrust, yaw moments and roll moments.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for coupling together a pair of axially misaligned shafts of which the respective ends of the shafts retainably fit within a hub within the interior of which the longitudinal axes of the shafts meet at a common point. A plurality of arms extend radially outwardly along the hub and a portion of the hub adjacent each and extend toward each other into the interior of the hub into contact with a bearing contained within the hub of the common point, whereby ends of each respective shaft and hub retaining portion are movable relative to one another.

Abstract: An improved rotary wing aircraft shrouded propeller ducted tail assembly utilizing the flow pattern of the propeller slip stream exiting from the outlet end of the duct for flight control by means of movable slip stream deflecting surfaces. Three vertically extending deflecting surfaces are pivotally supported at the outlet end of the duct rearwardly of the propeller comprising a vertically extending, elongated rudder surface pivotally supported for rotation about a vertical axis on the duct centerline and a pair of duct sidewall flaps each pivotally supported by hinges mounted on the respective opposite duct lateral sidewalls for obtuse angular rotation between a position extending outwardly and perpendicularly of the duct sidewall on which it is hinged and a position extending through an opening in the duct sidewall of which it is hinged to protrude transversely of the duct interior.