Abstract: Systems and methods for extending the interior cargo bay of fixed-wing cargo aircraft into a replaceable tailcone bay are disclosed. The system includes an aircraft and a removable tailcone configured couple to the aft end of the fuselage. The aircraft fuselage includes a cargo bay and an aft end opening into the cargo bay. The tailcone, when attached, encloses the aft end opening the cargo bay. The tailcone can include an interior volume configured to extend the fuselage cargo bay such that the interior volume defines an aft end of a cargo bay of the cargo aircraft. In some examples, the tailcone includes a plurality of segments, which can be configured to extend from the aft end of the aircraft to adjust a length of the cargo extension provided by the tailcone.

Abstract: A fixed-wing cargo aircraft having a fuselage wing cutout supported by box beam longerons is disclosed. The fuselage contains a continuous interior cargo bay, and includes a forward portion, an aft portion, and a cutout defined by a plurality of structural elements configured to transfer a wing load to the fuselage, the structural elements including opposite starboard and port longeron beams each spanning a longitudinal length of the cutout. The starboard and port longeron beams have an enclosed box beam construction, which can include a plurality of panel sections, at least one of the plurality of panel sections comprising a skin panel of the fuselage. The cutout can have forward and aft frame beams each having an enclosed box beam construction that form a structural perimeter of the cutout with the starboard and port longeron beams.

Abstract: A landing gear system for an aircraft includes a drag brace, a lateral brace, and a support assembly, the support assembly coupled to: a lateral side of the fuselage via the lateral brace, an upper portion of the fuselage via a hinge, and a forward portion of the fuselage via the drag brace. The support assembly can rotate about the hinge connection about a forward-aft axis, with the lateral brace resisting rotation of the support assembly about the forward-aft axis, and the drag brace resisting rotation of the support assembly about a vertical axis. The system includes inboard and outboard landing gear separately coupled to the support assembly to support weight of the aircraft. The hinge transfers vertical forces to the fuselage, moments about the hinge are reacted by forces on the lateral brace, and drag forces are transferred to the fuselage by the drag brace.

Abstract: Tail strike mitigation devices and related methods are disclosed herein that can prevent or mitigate a tail of an aircraft from striking a runway surface when landing or taking off, including when landing on or taking off from a semi-prepared runway. Tail strike mitigation devices of the present disclosure can extend, for example, from a bottom surface of the fuselage of the aircraft at a tail of an aircraft and/or can include a tail skid with a large contact surface area, as compared to conventional tail strike devices. The tail skid can have a high flotation impact surface. The tail skid can be moved between retracted and deployed positions, and can be oriented at a range of angle relative to at least one of the landing surface and/or the bottom surface of the fuselage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removeably adding a cargo bay floor to the interior cargo bay of cargo aircraft bay are disclosed. The system includes a rail disposed in a cargo bay of a cargo aircraft with the rail extending longitudinally along both a length of a forward portion and an aft portion of the fuselage. The system includes a cargo floor segment configured to be removeably attached to the rail. When attached, the cargo floor segment can transform between a first arrangement with the cargo floor segment translatable along the rail, and a second arrangement with the cargo floor segment fixedly secured to a location along the rail. The cargo floor segment is configured to, when secured to the rail, define a section of a floor of the cargo bay of the cargo aircraft. Multiple floor segments can be used together to form a continuous floor for the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removeably adding a cargo bay floor to the interior cargo bay of cargo aircraft bay are disclosed. The system includes a rail disposed in a cargo bay of a cargo aircraft with the rail extending longitudinally along both a length of a forward portion and an aft portion of the fuselage. The system includes a cargo floor segment configured to be removeably attached to the rail. When attached, the cargo floor segment can transform between a first arrangement with the cargo floor segment translatable along the rail, and a second arrangement with the cargo floor segment fixedly secured to a location along the rail. The cargo floor segment is configured to, when secured to the rail, define a section of a floor of the cargo bay of the cargo aircraft. Multiple floor segments can be used together to form a continuous floor for the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extending the interior cargo bay of fixed-wing cargo aircraft into a replaceable tailcone bay are disclosed. The system includes an aircraft and a removable tailcone configured couple to the aft end of the fuselage. The aircraft fuselage includes a cargo bay and an aft end opening into the cargo bay. The tailcone, when attached, encloses the aft end opening the cargo bay. The tailcone can include an interior volume configured to extend the fuselage cargo bay such that the interior volume defines an aft end of a cargo bay of the cargo aircraft. In some examples, the tailcone includes a plurality of segments, which can be configured to extend from the aft end of the aircraft to adjust a length of the cargo extension provided by the tailcone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removeably adding a cargo bay floor to the interior cargo bay of cargo aircraft bay are disclosed. The system includes a rail disposed in a cargo bay of a cargo aircraft with the rail extending longitudinally along both a length of a forward portion and an aft portion of the fuselage. The system includes a cargo floor segment configured to be removeably attached to the rail. When attached, the cargo floor segment can transform between a first arrangement with the cargo floor segment translatable along the rail, and a second arrangement with the cargo floor segment fixedly secured to a location along the rail. The cargo floor segment is configured to, when secured to the rail, define a section of a floor of the cargo bay of the cargo aircraft. Multiple floor segments can be used together to form a continuous floor for the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extending the interior cargo bay of fixed-wing cargo aircraft into a replaceable tailcone bay are disclosed. The system includes an aircraft and a removable tailcone configured couple to the aft end of the fuselage. The aircraft fuselage includes a cargo bay and an aft end opening into the cargo bay. The tailcone, when attached, encloses the aft end opening the cargo bay. The tailcone can include an interior volume configured to extend the fuselage cargo bay such that the interior volume defines an aft end of a cargo bay of the cargo aircraft. In some examples, the tailcone includes a plurality of segments, which can be configured to extend from the aft end of the aircraft to adjust a length of the cargo extension provided by the tailcone.