Abstract: A structural assembly for an airfoil structure comprising at least one connection member configured to connect a leading-edge member, or a trailing-edge member, of an airfoil structure to a torsion-box member, such that the connection member prevents the leading-edge member, or trailing-edge member, from pivoting relative to the torsion-box member away from an operational position. At least one corresponding support is provided wherein the support is configured to be attachable to the connection member and further configured to be attachable to at least one system element.

Abstract: An aerodynamic structure comprising an aerodynamic surface. The aerodynamic surface is formed by a first part of the aerodynamic structure; a second part of the aerodynamic structure; and a sealed gap between the first part and the second part. The sealed gap contains a sealant material and a support material.

Abstract: A windowed structure includes a body having a frame with an outer wall extending between a first end and a second end. An inner wall extends from the outer wall. The inner wall is connected to the outer wall at the first end to define a proximal joint of the body delimiting a window opening extending through the body. A window element covers the window opening and defines an outer window surface and an inner window surface. The window element has an overlap segment overlaying the outer wall and attached thereto. An unobstructed portion of the window element is defined between the overlap segment and is unobstructed by the frame between the proximal joint.

Abstract: A hybrid rotary aircraft includes a body having an inner area; a plurality of arms rigidly attached to and extending from the body; a plurality of rotor assemblies pivotally engaged with the plurality of arms; a first gas engine; and a first brushless electric generator rotatably attached to the first gas engine and conductively coupled to each of the brushless electric motors. The plurality of rotor assemblies each having a brushless electric motor; and a rotor blades rotatably attached to the brushless electric motor.

Abstract: A system for rolling landing gear includes a skid component attached to an aircraft, wherein the skid component further comprises a first skid tube oriented laterally to a longitudinal axis of the axis, a second skid tube oriented laterally to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, wherein the second skid tube is parallel to the first skid tube, a first wheel journaled on a first rotational fulcrum, a second wheel journaled on a second rotational fulcrum, a first biasing means attaching the first rotational fulcrum to the first skid tube, and a second biasing means attaching the second rotational fulcrum to the second skid tube, wherein the first biasing means and second biasing means exert a recoil force resisting upward displacement of the first rotational fulcrum and second rotational fulcrum with respect to the first skid tube and second skid tube.

Abstract: An aircraft passenger compartment suite may include at least one single passenger compartment including at least one single aircraft seat. The at least one single aircraft seat may be configured to seat a single passenger. The aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a combined divan passenger compartment with a combined divan aircraft seat. The combined divan aircraft seat may be configured to seat at least one passenger. The combined divan aircraft seat may have a width greater than a width of the at least one single aircraft seat. The combined divan passenger compartment may include a stowage compartment configured to stow large passenger amenities in a substantially vertical orientation. The aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a privacy divider separating the combined divan passenger compartment and the at least one single passenger compartment.

Abstract: An anti-torque assembly for a helicopter includes a plurality of fans pivotably mountable to a tail boom. The fans have fan blades rotatable about a fan axis. One or more of the fans is pivotable relative to the tail boom to a first configuration. The fan axes in the first configuration have an upright orientation and the fans are operable to one or both of pitch and roll the helicopter. Different fans are operable to generate thrust to provide anti-torque to the helicopter. A method of providing anti-torque and method of changing an attitude of a helicopter are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a rotorcraft comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, a wing coupled to the body, a single tiltrotor assembly pivotally coupled to the body, and the tiltrotor assembly configured to move between a position generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis during a vertical flight mode and a position generally parallel to the longitudinal axis during a horizontal flight mode. The rotorcraft may further comprise an anti-torque system configured to counteract torque generated by the tiltrotor assembly during vertical flight. The rotorcraft may further comprise a center of gravity compensation system configured to manage a rotorcraft center of gravity during movement of the tiltrotor assembly between the vertical flight mode and the horizontal flight mode.

Abstract: A parachute deployment system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes an interface configured to receive sensor information; a parachute load limiting device; and a parachute load limiting device state controller. The parachute load limiting device state controller sets a state of the parachute load limiting device to a state associated with a corresponding amount of load based at least in part on the sensor information.

Abstract: An electric, inductively-energized, multi-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller hub is configured with an internal battery, electronic control unit and electric internal reversible hubmotor, when energized by a voltage inducted across an air gap into an annulus of receiver coils that is mounted onto said propeller hub and when said propeller hub is attached to and operated with complementary electrical, electronic and mechanical components that enable wireless command signals, together forming a novel and versatile device whose operation can provide near-instantaneous modulation of aircraft thrust, lift and drag by the action of said propeller hub to actuate precise and equal changes to the pitch of each propeller blade through a full range of useful pitch settings, both during rotation of said propeller hub and when said propeller hub is stationary, with an innovation including a coaxial driveshaft that facilitates the removal and installation of said propeller hub from a propmotor.

Abstract: A wing stall compensation mechanism employs an upper door having forward upper hinge end pivotally coupled to an upper wing structure for rotation about an upper axis and a free aft upper end. A lower door has a free aft lower end and a forward lower hinge end pivotally coupled to a lower wing structure for rotation about a lower axis and a 2-bar coupler linkage is disposed between and pivotally coupled to the upper door and lower door. Downward rotation of the upper door in response to wing surface airflow separation causes contraction of the coupler linkage inducing upward rotation of the lower door from a closed position that inhibits airflow through a flap slot to an open position that enables airflow through the flap slot, to thereby restore wing surface airflow effectiveness.

Abstract: A modal restraint system for an occupant of a seat of an aircraft having a mechanical failure sensor includes a strap feeder unit and a strap selectively retractable into and extendable from the strap feeder unit. The strap is positionable adjacent to the occupant. The strap feeder unit is adapted to switch between a plurality of modes including an unfixed mode and a fixed mode. The strap is extendable from and retractable into the strap feeder unit in the unfixed mode. The strap is substantially unextendable from the strap feeder unit in the fixed mode. The strap feeder unit is in the unfixed mode by default. The strap feeder unit is operable to switch to the fixed mode in response to a precautionary event including detection of an aircraft mechanical failure by the mechanical failure sensor, thereby reducing freedom of movement of the occupant relative to the seat.

Abstract: A galley for an aircraft includes a frame having metal structural members having interior surfaces and panels coupled to and supported by the frame. Each panel has a core and a facesheet having an inner surface. The frame and the panels define a cart compartment configured to receive a galley cart. The interior surfaces of the metal structural members are interior of the inner surface of the corresponding facesheet. The galley includes a cooling system having a supply duct and a return duct along one or more of the panels in flow communication with the cart compartment configured to supply cooled airflow from a heat exchanger. The galley includes insulating panels located in the cart compartment covering the interior surfaces of the corresponding metal structural members.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an ice management system, including: a plurality of pulsejets located within an interior volume of an aircraft and configured to heat an aircraft surface, wherein each pulsejet of the plurality of pulsejets comprises: an inlet; a combustor; a fuel source; and an exhaust nozzle; and a plurality of intake apertures in the aircraft, wherein each intake aperture of the plurality of intake apertures corresponds to an inlet of one pulsejet of the plurality of pulsejets.

Abstract: A spar assembly for an aircraft wing extends between an upper cover and a lower cover and includes linkages spaced consecutively along the length of the spar assembly, each linkage extending from an upper pivot, to a lower pivot, thereby joining upper and lower attachment structures of the spar assembly together. Each linkage includes a pair of fixed-length links pivotably connected at one end about a center pivot and pivotably connected at respective other ends. The spar assembly includes a drive bar connected to the center pivot of each of the linkages, and an actuator arranged to move the drive bar along the length of the spar assembly. When the actuator moves the drive bar along the length of the spar structure, the links in each pair of links are rotated relative to each other about the center pivot, thereby moving the upper and lower covers and warping the wing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having three lifting surfaces and separate lift and cruise systems. The VTOL aircraft may include a fuselage having a roll axis, a thrust rotor to produce a propulsion thrust, first and second rotor booms, first and second canard surfaces, first and second wing surfaces, first and second tail surfaces, and a plurality of lift rotors to produce a lifting thrust force. The plurality of lift rotors includes a first plurality of lift rotors positioned on the first rotor boom and a second plurality of lift rotors positioned on the second rotor boom. The first and second rotor booms may be substantially parallel to the roll axis of the fuselage, where the fuselage is positioned between the first and second rotor booms. Each of the first and second rotor booms may be secured to the aircraft at three locations.

Abstract: A floor grid includes an outboard member, a first seat track and a second seat track, a first member extending from the outboard member to the first seat track, a second member extending from the first seat track to the second seat track, a first stanchion extending from the outboard member to the first seat track, a second stanchion extending from the outboard member to the second seat track, a third seat track and a fourth seat track, an intercostal extending from the second seat track to the fourth seat track, a third member extending from the outboard member to the third seat track, a fourth member extending from the third seat track to the fourth seat track, a third stanchion extending from the outboard member to the third seat track, and a fourth stanchion extending from the outboard member to the fourth seat track.

Abstract: Rotary electric engines, aircraft including the same, and associated methods. A rotary electric engine includes a nacelle, a fan configured to generate thrust, a stator operatively coupled to the nacelle, and a rotor operatively coupled to the fan. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor magnets operatively coupled to respective blade tips of the fan blades. The stator includes a plurality of field coils configured to produce a magnetic interaction between the field coils and the rotor magnets to rotate the fan. In examples, the stator is configured to rotate each field coil relative to the nacelle. In examples, an aircraft includes one or more rotary electric engines pivotally mounted within engine mount regions. In examples, a method of operating an aircraft includes operating one or more rotary electric engines in a vertical lift configuration and in a forward flight configuration.

Abstract: A self-aligning structural attachment and a corresponding method are disclosed. The self-aligning structural attachment includes a main body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the main body is attached to (i) a CIP of a support system and (ii) a clevis on an airframe of an aircraft. Further, the self-aligning structural attachment includes a first attachment fitting disposed on the proximal end, wherein the first attachment fitting is a slide-and-swivel attachment fitting. Still further, the self-aligning structural attachment includes a second attachment fitting disposed on the distal end, wherein the second attachment fitting is a slide attachment fitting. Yet still further, the self-aligning structural attachment includes a pivoting hinge disposed between the first attachment fitting and the second attachment fitting.

Abstract: A mount system for tiltably supporting a pylon assembly of a rotorcraft. First, second, third and fourth pylon links are each coupled between the pylon assembly and the airframe of the rotorcraft. The first pylon link has a first axis, the second pylon link has a second axis, the third pylon link has a third axis and the fourth pylon link has a fourth axis. Each of the axes intersects at a focal point located proximate a coaxial rotor system having counter-rotating upper and lower rotor assemblies such that the focal point provides a virtual pivot point about which the pylon assembly tilts to generate a control moment about a center of gravity of the rotorcraft that counteracts lateral and fore/aft moments generated by the upper and lower rotor assemblies during rotorcraft maneuvers.