Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft is configured with a front set of propellers mounted to a front wing and an aft set of propellers mounted to an aft wing wherein the propellers may be repositioned by rotating them around a front thrust vectoring axis and an aft thrust vectoring axis respectively. The positioning of the propellers with respect to the thrust vectoring axes and the positioning of the thrust vectoring axes with respect to the upper and lower limits of the passenger compartment ensure that, as the propellers are rotated from a vertical thrust position to a horizontal thrust position, the plane of rotation of the propellers never intersects with the portion of the passenger compartment where a failure of propeller components could result in debris penetrating the passenger compartment and causing injury.

Abstract: An aircraft safety system includes impact energy reduction systems including: an aircraft parachute, at least one rotor configured for autorotation, and an energy absorbing system. An automatic control system uses data from speed and altitude sensors to selectively and sequentially deploy the impact energy reduction systems depending on the portion of the aircraft speed and altitude flight envelope in which the aircraft is operating when an emergency is detected.

Abstract: An aircraft is configured with a propulsion system having a rotor with both cyclic and collective control, and an axis of rotation about which the propulsion system rotates with respect to the fuselage. A control system is configured to use torque generated through cyclic control of the rotor to reposition the propulsion system around the axis of rotation without the need for an independent actuator mechanism to rotate the propulsion system, thus reducing the weight and mechanical complexity of the aircraft. The control system may also utilize the torque provided by one or more rotors to position one or more wings with respect to the airflow over the aircraft, exerting torque on the aircraft to control the direction of the aircraft.