Abstract: A refueling apparatus for interconnecting a tanker aircraft (11) with a receiver aircraft in flight comprising a boom (21) joined to said tanker aircraft (11) by means of a mechanical articulation (41) having control means including a central computer station, an inner fuel conduit, a refueling nozzle (27) at its distal end and, and a smart tip assembly comprising a first module (83) having load sensing means, a second module (85) having load alleviation means and a third module (87), joined to the nozzle (27), having a mechanical fuse (99) for allowing the safe separation of tanker and receiver aircraft in the event of overloads. The invention also comprises a method of load alleviation for minimizing the loads on the boom (21).

Abstract: Control station which comprises: a seat (10) for the operator of the said control station, the seat (10) comprising at least one arm rest (30), and a control and command assembly, said assembly comprising a control stick (1) with controls, mechanical components for transmitting and generating forces and movement to and from the control stick (1), components (17) for measuring the position of the control stick (1), and electronic components which are connected to the control stick (1) and via which the control and command assembly is operated, the control stick (1) of the said control station being incorporated in the seat (10), the control stick (1) being situated moreover on the armrest (30).

Abstract: Training method for the simulation of an operation performed by at least one device which is part of a real apparatus, wherein the method comprises providing to display means overlaid images under controlled depth order of a virtual apparatus, and real images of said device, and providing a simulated response to control means, based on data of the position and behavior of said device and on data of the position and behavior of said virtual apparatus.

Abstract: A backup device for raising a refueling boom interconnecting a tanker aircraft with a receiver aircraft in flight, the boom being joined to the tanker aircraft by a mechanical articulation and a hoist cable. The backup device includes a secondary cable fixed at one side in the boom, and fixed at the other side in a cable actuator placed inside the tanker aircraft, the secondary cable being extended along the underside of the tanker aircraft and along the boom, and attached to them in at least three intermediate points with clips or staples that can be released by a force exerted through the secondary cable. The cable actuator has rolling devices to roll the secondary cable for raising the boom to the stowed position.

Abstract: Method and device for in-flight boom refuelling operations using an articulated boom (11) and a cable (18), said boom (11) comprising movable aerodynamic surfaces (16), said method comprising the following steps: a) from a completely stowed-away and retracted position of the boom (11), the cable (18) is initially released, thereby starting to lower the boom (11), such that the said cable (18) is kept tensioned during the whole of step a) by means of the force supplied by the movable aerodynamic surfaces (16) and/or the force of gravity acting on the boom (11); b) after reaching the maximum deployed position of the boom (11), or the bottom end of the flight envelope of the boom (11), release of the cable (18) is stopped; c) while keeping the length of released cable (18) fixed, the boom (11) is brought into a suitable position for commencing the manoeuvres for refuelling of the receiver aircraft; d) the manoeuvre for connecting the boom (11) to the receptacle of the receiver aircraft is started by means of

Abstract: An aircraft telescopic in-flight refueling mast comprising a metallic structural beam (31), electrically connected to the aircraft by flexible conductive means (33), having inside a fixed metallic tube (11) and a metallic telescopic tube (11) providing the fuel conduit, and, attached to said beam (31), flight control surfaces (41) and protection means against electric discharges, specially lightning strikes and electro-static discharges, including insulated means (39, 51) and low conductive means (15, 17) for reducing the lightning currents at a safe level and for draining the static charge created during the refueling, and conductive means (19, 21, 23, 33, 43) providing a safe lightning current path and good electrical bonding for electro-static discharge.

Abstract: Method for the certification of heater blankets by means of infrared thermography, in which a heater blanket (1) to be certified is enclosed in a vacuum bag (3,4,5,5?,8,9,10) arranged above a support (2) and thermally insulated therefrom, the vacuum is formed inside said bag and said heater blanket is connected until its temperature is stabilized at a predefined value, considerably higher than the ambient temperature, whereupon the best infrared image or images of said heater blanket (1) are recorded and stored by means of an infrared camera (14) situated opposite it, then interrupting the electric power supply to said heater blanket and processing the stored images so as to produce, finally, a certification report.

Abstract: A fairing for streamlining the junction between the horizontal stabilizer and the fuselage or the fin of an aircraft, comprising an upper fairing shell, a lower fairing shell, a leading edge extension, and several fittings to join the upper and lower fairing shells to the horizontal stabilizer. The upper and lower fairing shells are solid laminates of composite material that are designed with a shape, composition, and thickness such that they can be elastically deformed when they are fitted to the horizontal stabilizer, providing a contact force permitting them to lay permanently in contact with the fuselage or fin. A process for manufacturing the fairing shells.

Abstract: Assembly for testing a panel (11) made of composite material under different combinations of shear-compression loads using an universal tension load machine (16), comprising metallic sheets (12) configured to form, together with the panel (11), a frame of rectangular shape in the same plane than the panel (11), being said metallic sheets (12) able to transmit external loads to the panel (11), two loading parts (19), having translatable lugs (20) to be connected with the universal tension load machine (16), joined at two opposed sides of said frame and a structure (18) to prevent displacements out of the panel (11).