Abstract: An aircraft with a long body 1 which has a forward end 2 and an aft end 3, which is able to achieve vertical take-off by means of a tilt-able rotor and blade assembly 4 at the forward part of the aircraft and a tilt-able turbojet 19 at the rear of the aircraft. The rotor and blade assembly is rotated by an engine assembly 8, with the engine assembly, the rotor and blades all positioned on top a multi-directional tilt enabling joint 9. The turbojet is fitted to a multi-directional tilt enabling joint 27 to allow control of lateral movement of the aircraft as well as providing vertical lift and forward propulsion during forward flight. The turbojet is connected to the tilt enabling joint 27 by a rivet 30 such that the turbojet can be rotated relative to the tilt enabling joint.

Abstract: The invention relates to a configuration of engines (3) for aircraft located in the rear part of the fuselage (2) of said aircraft, the engines (3) being attached in a fixed manner by pylons (5) to the structure of the aircraft, said structure comprising a torsion box (14) which traverses the fuselage (2) and is used to attach the pylons (5), the fuselage (2) comprising an opening (4) allowing the passage of the suspension pylons (5) for the engines (3), said configuration further comprising a pivoting area (8), an actuator (7) and a fitting (6) through which the actuator (7) is attached to the suspension pylons (5) and to the torsion box (14) of the aircraft, such that the assembly formed by the actuator (7) and the fitting (6) allow balancing the pylon (5) and engine (3) assembly of the aircraft through the pivoting area (8), thus achieving controllable and optimal thrust vectoring of the aircraft for each flight phase.

Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft having a wing and a rotatable pylon carried by the wing is disclosed. The pylon is secured to a pylon support spindle that extends into the wing. A link connects a radial portion of the pylon support spindle to a radial portion of an actuator spindle, such that the pylon support spindle is rotated as the actuator spindle is rotated.

Abstract: A fixed wing Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft for use as a Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) or unmanned vehicle. A first double-ended drive shaft engine is mounted sideways in the front of the fuselage to serve a first pair of ducted fans mounted at the ends of the front wing. A second double-ended drive shaft engine is mounted sideways in the rear of the fuselage to serve a second pair of ducted fans mounted on the rear fuselage. The ducted fans are rotatable from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation to permit the aircraft to take off and land as a VTOL or conventional aircraft, and to be flown as a conventional aircraft. A parachute is provided with inflation assistance to permit rapid low altitude deployment for a controlled descent of the aircraft in an emergency.

Abstract: A gimbaled truss assembly is disclosed including a frame rotatably mounted in a gimbal mount, and a truss rotatably mounted within the frame. The truss is configured to retain a propulsion system. The frame and the truss rotate independently of one another. A fastening system for mounting the propulsion system to the truss includes vibration isolators. A plurality of braces are coupled to the gimbal mount. The braces conform to the external surface of an air vehicle on which the assembly is to be attached.

Abstract: An aircraft is equipped with hingeless rotors on tilting nacelles, and the tilt angles of the nacelles are controlled using either or both of an actuator and a mast moment generated by a hingeless rotor. An aircraft with two or more rotors on tilting nacelles can achieve control of yaw orientation by differential tilt of its nacelles or masts. Hingeless rotors can be manipulated to control a tilt angle of a mast by changing the rotor blade pitch to produce a mast moment. The rotor and nacelle tilt of a tiltrotor rotorcraft can be controlled and effected in order to manipulate the yaw orientation and flight mode of a rotorcraft such as a tiltrotor. The use of mast moment to control nacelle tilt angle can reduce tilt actuator loads and allows for the control of nacelle tilt even in the event of an actuator failure.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an airship or hybrid aircraft includes a propeller and a pivot mechanism connected to the propeller. The pivot mechanism enables the propeller to pivot around a first pivot axis between a maneuver thruster position and an emergency ballonet fill position. Under normal conditions, when the propulsion system is disposed in the maneuver thruster position, the pivot mechanism also enables the propeller to pivot around a second pivot axis to control the attitude and thrust of the vehicle. However, in an emergency descent situation, the propeller may be rotated to the emergency ballonet fill position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which an electrical control system independently effects acceleration of both driven and driving elements of a clutch to engage each other. In preferred embodiments the clutch is not a friction clutch, but a dog clutch, and forms part of a drive drain of a rotorcraft. A second clutch can be used, along with a mechanical interlock to prevent simultaneous engagement of the clutches. Speeds of the driven and driving elements can be sensed, and altered using at least one of a rotor, a brake, a generator, an electric motor, and a combustion motor.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a short take-off and landing/vertical take-off and landing aircraft that stores required take-off power in the form of primarily an electric fan engine, and secondarily in the form of an internal combustion engine, wherein the combined power of the electric fan and internal combustion engines can cause the STOL/VTOL A/C to take-off in substantially less amount of time and space than other STOL/VTOL A/C, and further wherein the transition from vertical to horizontal thrust is carefully executed to rapidly rise from the take-off position to a forward flight position, thereby minimizing the necessity for a larger electric fan engine.

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: Aircraft including an airframe having a fuselage extending between a forward end and an aft end opposite the forward end. The aircraft further includes a powerplant pivotally connected to the fuselage adjacent the aft end. The powerplant produces exhaust during operation of the aircraft. The powerplant is selectively pivotable to direct exhaust at multiple angles with respect to the fuselage.

Abstract: An aircraft with a long body 1 which has a forward end 2 and an aft end 3, which is able to achieve vertical take-off by means of a tilt-able rotor and blade assembly 4 at the forward part of the aircraft and a tilt-able turbojet 19 at the rear of the aircraft. The rotor and blade assembly is rotated by an engine assembly 8, with the engine assembly, the rotor and blades all positioned on top a multi-directional tilt enabling joint 9. The turbojet is fitted to a multi-directional tilt enabling joint 27 to allow control of lateral movement of the aircraft as well as providing vertical lift and forward propulsion during forward flight. The turbojet is connected to the tilt enabling joint 27 by a rivet 30 such that the turbojet can be rotated relative to the tilt enabling joint.

Abstract: An aircraft comprises two wings, a fuselage, a tail planform and a pair of counter-rotating propellers. The two wings are located at a longitudinal center of gravity of the aircraft. The fuselage is located forward of the longitudinal center of gravity and coupled to the two wings. The tail planform is coupled to the two wings and located aft of the longitudinal center of gravity. The pair of counter-rotating propellers are located at the longitudinal center of gravity and between the wings. Further, the pair are coupled to a tilting mechanism for tilting the propellers between a vertical flight position and a forward flight position. One of the propellers located beneath the wings when in the vertical flight position and one of the propellers is located above the wings when in the vertical flight position.

Abstract: A micro aerial vehicle can be converted during flight between a fixed wing flight mode and a rotary wing flight mode. The canard design micro aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, two tiltable propellers and airfoils arranged at a forward portion of fuselage, a pair of coaxial drive shafts positioned aft of the tiltable propeller and airfoil arranged for contra-rotation, a stop rotor mechanism, and a pair of wing panels, each of the wing panels attached to one of the coaxial drive shafts. The wing panels act as contra-rotating rotor blades in the rotary wing flight mode, and act as fixed wing panels in the fixed wing mode.

Abstract: Swiveling engines 5a, 5b attached to the fuselage 2 by struts 4a, 4b, for example to the rear part of the fuselage are used to control the pitch and yaw movements of an aircraft 1. The swivel axes 41a, 41b of the engines are oriented to form a V so that swiveling one engine creates a variation of the vertical and lateral components of the engine thrust. Controlled swiveling of the two swiveling engines makes it possible to generate a component of the resultant thrust in a vertical plane that can be controlled in direction and intensity to generate pitch and yaw torques. The swiveling engines also include pods provided with jet deflection flaps for the engine considered, and the struts are profiled and provided with a trailing edge control surface using ruddervator architecture.

Abstract: A carriage and release system for stores (armaments such as rockets and bombs) on an aircraft includes a bracket adapted for attachment to the aircraft. A pylon is mounted on the bracket for movement in a pitch direction relative to the aircraft. A mechanism is provided to power the pitch movement and position it at a predetermined angle relative to the aircraft. A variety of stores carriers may be employed with the pylon. Subcarriages may also be mounted to the pylon for attaching additional stores carriers.

Abstract: A tilt-rotor aircraft (1) comprising a pair of contra-rotating co-axial tiltable rotors (11) on the longitudinal center line of the aircraft. The rotors (11) may be tiltable sequentially and independently. They may be moveable between a lift position and a flight position in front of or behind the fuselage (19).

Abstract: The invention relates to a configuration of engines (3) for aircraft located in the rear part of the fuselage (2) of said aircraft, the engines (3) being attached in a fixed manner by pylons (5) to the structure of the aircraft, said structure comprising a torsion box (14) which traverses the fuselage (2) and is used to attach the pylons (5), the fuselage (2) comprising an opening (4) allowing the passage of the suspension pylons (5) for the engines (3), said configuration further comprising a pivoting area (8), an actuator (7) and a fitting (6) through which the actuator (7) is attached to the suspension pylons (5) and to the torsion box (14) of the aircraft, such that the assembly formed by the actuator (7) and the fitting (6) allow balancing the pylon (5) and engine (3) assembly of the aircraft through the pivoting area (8), thus achieving controllable and optimal thrust vectoring of the aircraft for each flight phase.

Abstract: Aircraft including an airframe having a fuselage extending between a forward end and an aft end opposite the forward end. The aircraft further includes a powerplant pivotally connected to the fuselage adjacent the aft end. The powerplant produces exhaust during operation of the aircraft. The powerplant is selectively pivotable to direct exhaust at multiple angles with respect to the fuselage.

Abstract: A highly maneuverable aircraft with aerostatic lift consists, in particular, of a non-rigid airship (10) which can be piloted or radio-controlled; the airship (10) is sustained by helium and consists of two spindle-shaped elements side by side (11) joined by a connecting structure (12) to form a characteristic catamaran shape, without deflecting aerodynamic control surfaces as the command system consists of a set of several adjustable electric motors, each driving a variable-pitch propeller (13).

Abstract: A light aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing is provided. The aircraft includes landing gear, a fuselage, having a first and a second side, a front, a back, a top and a bottom, a internal and a external section, a tail assembly, including a horizontal stabilizer, a plurality of elevators perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage, a vertical stabilizer, and a rudder. Thrust is provided by a first and a second jet engine, located externally on the first and second sides, respectively, providing thrust to the aircraft. A means for controlling the first and second jet engines pivotally rotates the first and second jet engines around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Control is provided by an interconnection element, including a first and second end, contacting the first and second jet engines, respectively, the interconnection element including a plurality of interconnection lines, contacting a first gear box, connected to a shaft and a control box.

Abstract: Vertical take-off aircraft (1) has first (4) and second (17) lifting mechanism (eg helicopter-type rotors, jets, turboprops) arranged in tandem, either above or outboard of ends (2, 3). Lifting mechanisms (4, 17) are independently tiltable, in multiple directions, by hydraulic rams (11, 13, 14, 16, 24, 26, 27, 29) to manoeuvre aircraft (1). In particular first lifting mechanism (4) may be tilted in the opposite transverse direction to second lifting mechanism (17) so as to alter direction of flight. First lifting mechanism (4) may be tilted by further hydraulic rams so that its rotor lies in a vertical plane for forward flight of aircraft (1).

Abstract: An autogyro, or aircraft with a rotating wing, has an airframe providing a motorcycle-like configuration for the rider. The motorcycle-like straddle-type seat locates the rider in front of the rotating wing, behind a teardrop shaped simulated fuel tank, and above the motorcycle engine used for turning the front-mounted propeller. A motorcycle-like handlebar controls the aircraft, including the adjustment for the rotating wing axis of rotation with respect to the aircraft and the engine throttle. Additional controls for operating the aircraft on the ground, such as wheel brakes and the steering, are also controlled from the handlebar.

Abstract: An aircraft with a long body 1 which has a forward end 2 and an aft end 3, which is able to achieve vertical take-off by means of a tiltable rotor and blade assembly 4 at the forward part of the aircraft and a tiltable turbojet 19 at the rear of the aircraft. The rotor and blade assembly is rotated by an engine assembly 8, with the engine assembly, the rotor and blades all positioned on top a multi-directional tilt enabling joint 9. The tubojet is fitted to a multi-directional tilt enabling joint 27 to allow control of lateral movement of the aircraft as well as providing vertical lift and forward propulsion during forward flight.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tilt rotor aircraft having a centrally mounted tiltable engine and rotor assembly. A turbine or other type of engine (or engines) is pivotally mounted on a central frame above and between the pilot and co-pilot, who occupy separate and identical control cockpit pods on either side of the engine. Placing the engine between the pilot and copilot maintains the CG within a narrow band in both horizontal and vertical flight modes, simplifying control and handling. Counter-rotating propellers may be driven by the engine(s) to eliminate torque effects. By mounting the engine and rotor package between and above the pilot and copilot, the rotor can be made to clear the ground, allowing the aircraft to land like an ordinary fixed-wing aircraft without damaging the propellers. Thus, the craft can be launched and landed in VTOL, HTOL, or STOL configurations, depending upon conditions and available landing and takeoff sites.

Abstract: A transmission gearbox (1) has a casing (2) that tilts around a tilting axis (B—B) via two bearings (19). Each of the bearings includes: a fixed part (20) having a sleeve (20a); and a trunnion (21a) which belongs to a pivoting part (21) and which pivots around the sleeve, the pivoting part being solidly connected to the casing (2). A shouldered wear ring (22) is disposed between the sleeve (20a) and the trunnion (21a) of each bearing (19). The invention is suitable for use in the pivot mounting of a power transmission gearbox (1) that is used to rotate the tilting rotor (14) of a convertible aircraft.

Abstract: A system for providing aircraft thrust includes a compressor, operable to take in a quantity of air, reduce the volume of the air to generate compressed air, and to deliver the compressed air to a tank. The tank is coupled to the compressor and is operable to receive the compressed air, store the compressed air, and deliver the compressed air to a nozzle mounted externally to the aircraft. The nozzle is operable to receive the compressed air and discharge the compressed air to provide thrust for the aircraft.

Abstract: A disclosed vertical lift flying craft includes a lift unit that, during operation, develops a force including an upward component. A payload unit suspends from the lift unit. The payload unit suspends from the lift unit in such a way as to impart lateral stability while remaining capable of horizontal flight, without incurring the adverse effects of a downward pitching moment. In addition to a lift unit and a payload unit, the vertical lift flying craft includes a pair of bearings and a suspension structure, which cooperate to suspend the payload unit from the lift unit. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement (26) is provided for mounting an engine (10), typically a gas turbine engine, to a vehicle. The mounting arrangement (26) includes connecting means (28, 30) constructed to extend from a core assembly (14) of the engine (10) through an outer component (24) to the vehicle. The mounting arrangement (26) also includes transmission means (41) extending from the connecting means (28, 30) to transmit thrust from the engine (10) to the vehicle.

Abstract: A scarf nozzle for a jet engine supported within a nacelle. The scarf nozzle is at an aft end of the nacelle. The scarf nozzle includes a first trailing edge portion and a second trailing edge portion. The second trailing edge portion is disposed aft of the first trailing edge portion. The scarf nozzle is configured to allow the nacelle to be integrated closer to a wing without adversely affecting the pressure gradient between the nacelle and the wing. The scarf nozzle allows a portion of an exhaust plume exiting the aft end of the nacelle to interact more favorably with an airflow along one or more surfaces adjacent the nacelle, thus delaying the onset of adverse pressure gradients and the formation of shock waves between the nacelle and the adjacent surfaces and between the adjacent surfaces and the exhaust plume.

Abstract: A pivoting power transmission unit is provided for driving a tiltable rotor of a convertible aircraft. The casing of the pivoting transmission unit comprises a lower casing, by which the casing is able to pivot on a support by two bearings each having a stationary part integral with the support and a swivelling part. The lower casing is assembled to an upper casing in which a drive shaft connected in rotation to gears housed in the casing is mounted so as to rotate about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the pivot axis of the casing. The upper casing is supported by an arrangement configured to transfer to the support via said bearings load/thrust forces experienced by the drive shaft during use.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft is superior in maneuverability, safety, and mobility. The aircraft has turbofan engines with separate core engines having fan engines used commonly for cruising and lifting up. The thrust from the fan engines can be directed to all directions by supporting the fan engines of the turbofan engines with separate core engines with biaxial support so that the fan engines are rotatable in the direction of pitching and rolling. The fan engines are mounted on both sides of each of front and rear sings. With this construction, the VTOL aircraft can cruise and hover by tilting the fan engines about the two axes while using the fan engines commonly for cruising and hovering.

Abstract: A pivoting power transmission unit is provided for transmitting rotational drive to a rotor configured to revolve about an axis of rotation and configured to be swivelled about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis. The unit comprises a casing mounted between two parts of a support by two bearings co-axial with the pivot axis. Each bearing includes a stationary part attached to the support, swivelling part attached to the casing and a wear take-up ring disposed therebetween. The unit further comprises a device to take up axial play between the casing and the support. The device includes an annular piston, sliding axially in a chamber fed with fluid under pressure, and bearing against an axial end of the wear take-up ring.

Abstract: A disclosed vertical lift flying craft includes a lift unit that, during operation, develops a force including an upward component. A payload unit suspends from the lift unit. The payload unit suspends from the lift unit in such a way as to impart lateral stability while remaining capable of horizontal flight, without incurring the adverse effects of a downward pitching moment. In addition to a lift unit and a payload unit, the vertical lift flying craft includes a pair of bearings and a suspension structure, which cooperate to suspend the payload unit from the lift unit. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatuse embodiments of the present invention are diclosed wherein wing-rotor configurations provide aerodynamically high lift-low drag capabilities and improvements over the prior art including increasing effective stall angles. In addition, wing-rotor-propeller configurations provide aerodynamically high lift-low drag and forward thrust capabilities and improvements over the prior art for all vehicles moving through gaseous fluids and particular including application for air vehicles and watercraft. Also, wing leading edge air blowing systems augment the example configurations for enhanced performance including substantially vertical take-off and landing of air vehicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements with regards to the control of VTOL aircraft that use two propellers or fans as the primary lifting devices in hover. More particularly, the invention is a means for effecting control of the aircraft using just the two propellers alone, and comprises the in-flight tilting of them—which are of the conventional, non-articulated type (though they may have collective blade-pitch)—directly and equally towards or away from one another (and therefore about parallel axes) as necessary for the generation of propeller torque-induced and gyroscopic control moments on the aircraft about an axis perpendicular to the propeller tilt and mean-spin-axes. For a side-by-side propeller arrangement, therefore, their (lateral) tilting towards or away from one another produces aircraft pitch control moments for full control of the aircraft in that direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air vehicle (Z) comprising a vehicle body (1); hollow fan ducts (3A-3D) supported to and elongating through the vehicle body at least at its foreside and rear-side locations, respectively. Each fan duct communicates with air at top and bottom of the vehicle body and has a fan (9A-9D) at a top opening (6). The air vehicle further comprises rotary engines (11) each installed inside of each fan duct to rotate the fan. In a preferred embodiment, a cylinder (13) of the rotary engine is mounted to a supporting housing (25) of the fan duct via elastic means (29) which may be fitted to a boss structure (26) of the supporting housing. Each fan duct is tiltable to any directions. Preferably, the fan ducts comprise a pair of front fan ducts (3A, 3B) and another pair of rear fan ducts (3C, 3D) supported to the rear-side of the vehicle body, and the rotary engines in diagonally located fan ducts (3A and 3D; 3B and 3C) are driven to rotate in the same direction.

Abstract: A device for lubricating a power gearbox having a variable orientation and a closed space has a lubricating unit that supplies lubricant to at least one element of the gearbox, which needs to be lubricated. A collecting reservoir collects lubricant from the closed space. A drain screw chamber, within the closed space, has a number of orifices disposed between different zones of the closed space and the drain screw chamber for passing lubricant there between. At least one rotary drain screw, which is produced in the form of an Archimedean screw, is disposed in the drain screw chamber to convey the lubricant from the drain screw chamber to the collecting reservoir. A drive unit drives the drain screw in rotation for conveying the lubricant. The orifices open respectively different zones of the closed space to the drain screw chamber such that the drain screw chamber can always collect lubricant from the different zones regardless of the orientation of the gearbox.

Abstract: An aircraft which is designed for remote controlled slow flight, indoor or in a small outdoor yard or field. The aerial lifting body is defined by a series of lightweight planar or thin airfoil surfaces (A1, A2, A3, A4) arranged in a radially symmetrical configuration. Suspended within the cavity (O) formed by the thin airfoil surfaces (A1, A2, A3, A4) is a thrust generating propeller system (C) that is angled upwardly and that can be regulated remotely so as to change the angle of the thrust vector within the cavity (O) for steering. Lifting, stability, turning, and general control of the direction of motion in flight is accomplished without any formal wings, rudder, tail, or control surfaces.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft having a wing fitted, in the preferred embodiment, with two nacelles one port and one starboard, each nacelle having two tiltmotors in tandem, one forward and one aft of the wing. A conventional rudder and high set tailplane is fitted or, in another embodiment forward canards or in yet another embodiment the aircraft is a flying wing. Forward tiltmotors can be tilted up past the vertical and the aft pusher tiltmotors can be tilted down past the vertical so that the aircraft can maintain a steep descent with the propeller discs horizontal and a low angle of attack of the wing. Each engine is fitted with a two bladed variable pitch propeller that feathers to stop vertically, other embodiments have cyclic pitch propellers. The tiltmotors, have a sideways cant in the tilted positions to reduce engine side loads in translation. All the tiltmotors are equipped with emergency electric motors that can be used to shift the center of lift in hover and assist in gust control.

Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft (11) has a multi-mode tiltrotor nacelle control system with integrated envelope protection (13). The tiltrotor aircraft (11) has a fuselage (15), a tail section (17), a left wing member (21a), a right wing member (21b), a right engine nacelle (23b), a left engine nacelle (23a), a left proprotor (25a), and a right proprotor (25b). Activation of the nacelle control system causes preselected rotational movement of the tiltrotor assembly.

Abstract: Improving convertible aircraft of the aforementioned type mainly in terms of the active control of vibrations, while at the same time avoiding the addition of significant additional masses for essentially countering the excitations caused by the rotors and, secondarily, of making such an aircraft easier to control in terms of roll in airplane mode. In this secondary objective, these improvements aim to allow simplifications to the maneuvering and command means for controlling the aircraft in terms of roll in airplane mode and preferably, at the same time, a simplification of the command and maneuvering means performing the functions of augmenting lift and reducing offsetting power. The invention also relates to improvements made to the convertible aircraft of the aforementioned type to give them the ability to land in airplane mode (without converting beforehand from airplane configuration to helicopter configuration).

Abstract: An unmanned air vehicle (UAV) having a ducted fan configuration with a propeller mounted inside of an opening that extends longitudinally through a fuselage. A gyroscopic stabilization device is attached to the propeller shaft such that rotation of the propeller shaft also results in rotation of the gyroscopic stabilization device. The gyroscopic stabilization device has sufficient mass and rotates at a sufficient angular velocity such that the aircraft is gyroscopically stabilized during flight. In one embodiment, the gyroscopic stabilization device comprises a ring mounted to the outer tips of the propeller and in another embodiment is comprised of a disc.

Abstract: A VTOL aircraft (or other vehicle such as a sea vehicle) includes a pair of elongated ducts on opposite sides of the vehicle body, and a plurality of powered propellers (or other propulsion units such as jet engines) mounted within and enclosed by each of the elongated ducts, such as to produce an upward lift force to the vehicle. Each of the elongated ducts has a short transverse dimension slightly larger than the diameter of the blades of each propeller enclosed thereby, and a large transverse dimension slightly larger than the sum of the diameters of the blades of all the propellers enclosed thereby.

Abstract: A suspension system for an aircraft powerplant attached to an aircraft frame and having a housing. The suspension system includes a spindle mounted in a spindle support rigidly joined to the aircraft frame, a bearing cage affixed to the housing and having a bearing positioned therein, a pair of suspension arms connected to the spindle support, and a pair of lateral linkrods configured to link the housing and the suspension arms. The side surfaces of the bearing cage and the suspension arms define a clearance therebetween concentric to the Y-axis. The bearing cage is configurable along the spindle such that the bearing cage is limited to displacement relative to the longitude of the spindle while maintaining contact with the spindle.

Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft (11) has a multi-mode tiltrotor nacelle control system with integrated envelope protection (13). The tiltrotor aircraft (11) has a fuselage (15), a tail section (17), a left wing member (21a), a right wing member (21b), a right engine nacelle (23b), a left engine nacelle (23a), a left proprotor (25a), and a right proprotor (25b). Activation of the nacelle control system causes preselected rotational movement of the tiltrotor assembly.

Abstract: The propulsion nacelles of a tilt-rotor type aircraft are adjustably positioned on the aircraft wings under control of a programmed actuator in response to error signals produced by change in angle of attack between the aircraft fuselage and the air stream to minimize drag imposed on the aircraft by the air stream during flight.

Abstract: Airborne fire fighting system comprising a helicopter and a pair of tiltable jet engines where the exhaust can be directed at the fire under the control of the pilot or other fire fighting crew. AFFS comprises a rotor-powered craft, fitted internally with a jet engine collinear to the length of the fuselage which has an air intake projecting through the rear of the fuselage. The jet exhaust escapes through a vector able orifice, protruding through the floor of the fuselage of the airborne firefighting platform. The jet exhaust impacts the ground in front of an advancing firewall and bounces through the firewall, extinguishing that segment of the fire. The system can also be used is to disperse snow and ice. The jet engine may also be removed and a smaller jet engine affixed with hydraulic arms to a wheeled mobile to be loaded into the AFFS and delivered to a fire zone where it can used to extinguish fire by remote control.

Abstract: A convertiplane having a wing in turn having two halfwings, each defined by a fixed portion adjacent to the fuselage, and by a movable portion rotating, with respect to the fixed portion, about a beam element extending the full length of the wing; the beam element supports, integrally, rotors located at respective ends of the wing, and engines connected to the rotors by a transmission, and is rotated about a respective axis by actuators to change the position of the rotors from a vertical-axis position wherein the convertiplane operates in helicopter mode, to a horizontal-axis position wherein the convertiplane operates in airplane mode.

Abstract: A tilt-rotor aircraft capable of vertical/short take-off and landing. The aircraft utilizes a co-axial counter rotating rotor system to provide vertical and horizontal thrust. The fuselage is positioned over the forward half of the rotor in the vertical take-off configuration and the rotors rotate ninety degrees to provide horizontal thrust in the forward flight mode. The aircraft uses conventional flight control surfaces during forward flight and uses cyclic rotor pitch control or a series of control surfaces located in the rotor wash to control the aircraft during vertical flight. One or more engines powering the rotor system provide thrust for the aircraft. The engine(s) can be located in the fuselage or in the wings. The aircraft uses lifting airfoils during forward flight which can include a wing/tail or a canard/wing configuration and uses a conventional tail for directional stability and control.